Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I note again the points the Deputy has made in his rejoinder. Like him, the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, is committed to resolving what is a spectrum of issues that have arisen not only in regard to Gleann Riada, which is the one the Deputy has raised, but the problems being experienced nationally by residents in unfinished housing developments, which is an acute and difficult issue.

Under the public safety initiative for unfinished housing developments, the Department has made allocations totalling €3.38 million to 21 local authorities from the funding made available to address immediate public safety issues. The works approved to date include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting and other works to secure sites. In respect of the development at Gleann Riada, Longford, the Department approved funding totalling €91,753 in August to cover the cost of addressing immediate public safety concerns there. Developments in 20 other local authority areas have also been supported under the public safety initiative.

The first annual progress report of the national co-ordination committee on unfinished housing developments, NCC, published by the Department on 5 July, confirmed that significant progress had been made nationally on the issue. While 2,876 estates had been identified as unfinished in the previous baseline survey, this number had been reduced to 2,066. It should be noted, however, that not all of these developments are seriously problematic, although many are. The Minister anticipates this progress will be reflected in the 2012 national housing development survey now under way. The results of that survey are expected later in the year.

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