Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I note that Deputy Michelle Mulherin acknowledges the practicality of the regulations in the provision of vital services by Irish Water and other utilities. She has raised the issue of legacy estates that are either unfinished or have not been taken in charge. I can tell her that the Government initiated a scheme called the special resolution fund under which funding was provided for local authorities where they had identified estates that were unfinished or causing a hazard. The good news is that significant progress has been made on unfinished estates. I want to be clear and distinguish unfinished estates from estates that are almost finished and which just need to be taken in charge. Unfinished estates are estates that possibly were left vacant because builders went off site for one reason or another. The good news is that we have reduced the number of unfinished estates from approximately 3,000 nationwide to just over 600. We are down to the last few hundred, which will need to be looked at more closely by local authorities to draw up specific resolution plans to provide for their finalisation.

I acknowledge the point made about the taking in charge of estates. There was some confusion about roles and who was responsible for water services once responsibility transferred to Irish Water. My Department issued a detailed circular outlining a new protocol and procedures to be followed by both Irish Water and local authorities in the taking over of essential infrastructure, including water services. These are having an impact, as there is a clearer understanding and we expect more progress to be made. However, if the Deputy believes there is a specific local authority that does not understand the protocol, I assure her that we will look at it. We can also circulate a copy of the protocol to the committee for information purposes in order that it is fully informed. That should also prove helpful.

Deputy Noel Coonan referred to-----