Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that there are some serious issues to be resolved and that 40 such developments have been identified to be partially or fully cleared. I hope that work will be done early in 2014. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has sanctioned a new round of funding in the budget which will allow the Minister of State at my Department with responsibility for housing and planning , Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to draw up lists in conjunction with local authorities of places where we can make further progress. We have made money available to deal with public safety issues to make these particular unsavoury locations safe. We need to resolve certain issues; some are in receivership, some are in liquidation, while in some cases there are no owners or funding available. Bonds will accommodate only part of the solution. We will ask local authorities early in the new year to give us their priority lists to identify where we can apply some of the €10 million to advance some of these projects.

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