Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2633. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the provision of a sewerage system for the residents of Coolmagort Avenue, Beaufort, County Kerry will be urgently addressed in view of the fact that raw sewerage is seeping into gardens and is the cause of serious health and safety concerns (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32942/18]
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). My Department launched the National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) in April 2016 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).
Under the terms of the NTICI, which was underpinned by €10 million in funding, developments subject to valid taking-in-charge applications were eligible for inclusion in the associated call for funding proposals. Ultimately, €7.7 million of the allocated funding was paid to local authorities in respect of 330 developments, containing some 13,400 homes.
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. I expect that the initiative will contribute to further streamlining of the taking-in-charge process, through, for example, securing coordination with capital works by Irish Water.
In addition, the recently published National Development Plan includes provision of €31 million for the period 2018-2021 for DPI. This is clear evidence of the Government's commitment to transition from the pilot phase under NTICI to a programme phase, commencing with an estimates provision of €3 million in 2018 on which further details will be announced in due course.
