Unfinished Housing Developments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2012

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Ceisteanna (432)

Dominic Hannigan

Ceist:

497 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of unfinished housing estate safety fund has been drawn down by councils to bring unfinished estates up to a public safety standard; the section of his Department that is managing the allocation of the fund to the councils; the section of his Department is that ensuring that the work is carried out; if a principal officer has been assigned to ensure that all this work is carried out; the way his Department is following up with estates that are on its unfinished housing estates survey that are still unsafe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20134/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

Under the Public Safety Initiative my Department has made allocations totalling some €2.79 million to 21 local authorities from the funding allocation made available to address immediate safety issues in 2011. The types of works that have been approved to date include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting and other works to secure sites. A provision of €2m has been made for 2012 and my Department will be making further allocations as applications are received from local authorities and assessed. To date, a total amount of €1.54 million has been drawn down by local authorities. Requests for funding relating to Category 4 unfinished housing developments (i.e. those developments in which serious public safety concerns exist and the responsible party cannot be pursued in the short term) are made to my Department by local authorities. My Department's Housing Inspectorate examine these applications and approve the allocation of funds. When the works have been carried out to a satisfactory degree, the local authorities then submit invoices to the Planning and Housing Policy Section of my Department.

Verification of the satisfactory completion of such works is a matter for the individual local authority concerned, and my Department has no remit in this regard.

Question No. 498 answered with Question No. 489.