Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the four-year issue, we need to allow sufficient time for a legal process, for example, to take its course. It will take time if a local authority is taking a developer to court. The enforcement processes take time.

If local authorities are to take housing estates in charge, they must be able to factor in the cost. One cannot just require them to take all housing estates in charge overnight in factoring the cost into the Estimates process. My intention is that we will give a very clear signal that there are timelines, after which there will be a requirement to start the process of taking an estate in charge. A well run local authority will account for that and plan for it financially. It is also a very clear signal to developers that it will be a real problem for a developer who does not finish a housing estate to the quality that is consistent with the planning regulations. We will introduce new legislation on building standards. I suspect Deputy Ruth Coppinger will be interested in these provisions when the Bill comes through. It will very much be about enforcement and creating a level playing field in order that the good developers and builders will not be at a disadvantage compared to those who cut corners. A combination of the building standards, the mandatory register for builders and what we are doing here in the amendments will dramatically improve where we are today.

Past performance will also be taken into account, for example, where developers have caused real problems for local authorities in not finishing estates and, more importantly, for residents or local authorities that have paid for homes. That will be taken into account as part of the decision-making process in planning. There is a series of new layers, with which developers can live. The good ones will welcome it and see it as a way of ensuring the same standards are being applied to everybody. That is the way it should be.