Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2016
184. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress in completing unfinished housing estates in County Kildare; the number of these he can hand over to the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14041/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2010, an annual National Housing Survey of Unfinished Housing Developments has been conducted during the Summer months to monitor progress. In that period, the number of unfinished housing developments has decreased by approximately three-quarters, from nearly 3,000 in 2010 to 668 in 2015. Of the 668 unfinished developments identified in the 2015 survey, my objective is to resolve as many more developments as possible with a particular focus on the 492 of these developments with residents.
The detailed findings of the annual surveys providing a breakdown of unfinished housing developments across local authority areas, annual progress reports and other useful publications and information in relation to Unfinished Housing Developments are available on the Housing Agency’s website:
http://www.housing.ie/Our-Services/Unfinished-Housing-Developments.aspx.
The 2015 National Housing Development Survey and the Annual Progress Report illustrate that improvements are continuing to be made in resolving unfinished developments and that the reactivation of sites is now evident throughout the country. The 2015 Survey showed that good progress is being made in Kildare, where 32 unfinished housing developments were recorded in 2015, representing a 56% reduction over 2014. Reactivation of construction on sites is also evident in the county, with over 30% of the 32 sites in Kildare reactivated in 2015.
My Department has issued detailed guidance to planning authorities in relation to the taking-in-charge of housing estates and the steps to be followed in this regard. The matter of taking-in-charge of estates is a matter for Kildare County Council.
The Government has committed, as set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government, to seek additional funding for the completion of the remaining unfinished housing developments to 2017. This recognises that finishing out housing developments will alleviate housing supply pressures and deliver social housing units under the social housing obligations, contained in Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2015.
