Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 June 2018
601. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures which can be taken with regard to a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26700/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe taking-in-charge of housing developments is a matter for the relevant local authority under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).
In April 2016, my Department launched a National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) to encourage local authorities to trial new approaches and working methods in supporting and accelerating overall national and local action on the taking-in-charge process of housing estates, including estates with developer-provided water services infrastructure (DPI). However, the NTICI was not intended as an ongoing funding support to the taking-in-charge process but rather an exercise in developing new approaches to analysing the level of estates not yet taken in charge and the steps to be taken in expediting applications on hand.
The findings and recommendations from the NTICI process will be included in a report on the initiative that I intend to publish shortly. The publication of the NTICI report will be of value to local authorities and other stakeholders in applying the lessons from the pilot authorities, in a more general roll-out of a streamlined approach to taking-in-charge.
The National Development Plan (NDP) also includes provision of €31 million for resolving developer-provided infrastructure for the period 2018-2021. This is clear evidence of the Government's commitment to transitioning from a pilot phase under NTICI to a programme phase, commencing with an Estimates provision of €3m in 2018 and on which I intend to announce further details in the coming months.
It is therefore a matter for Kerry County Council, as the authority that granted planning permission for the development in question, to consider what steps it intends to take in relation to the taking-in-charge or otherwise of the development in conjunction with the residents, in the light of its experience with the NTICI and its identification of appropriate funding to resolve any issues in relation to the development. This may include the proceeds from enforcing bonds and securities, its own sources or the measures outlined in the NDP.
