John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The report is being finalised at the moment with recommendations about sustaining progress on the taking in charge issue, and Crossbarry will be included in that. In late 2015, there was a national survey of housing developments that were not taken in charge which indicated that there were 5,655 completed housing developments nationally which were not taken in charge by local authorities, and we are all familiar with different examples across the country of estates that were unfinished. This lead to the launch of the national taking in charge initiative, which was a pilot scheme funded to the tune of €10 million of taxpayer's money. Seven local authorities were chosen for the pilot scheme, including Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Tipperary and Wexford. In total, 68 developments were submitted by the seven local authorities, and funding was provided for 44 of them initially. There were three steps involved. Some €5.5 million was provided for housing estates not containing developer-provided water services infrastructure. Another €3.5 million was made available for measure 2, which applied to similar estates, and €1 million was provided for measure 3, for technical assistance to advance knowledge for the delivery of the taking in charge process.

I will find out where Crossbarry stands. The Department is of the view that works are progressing. That might well mean that the works are at a planning stage rather than actual work on the ground, but if I discover further information I will pass it on to the Deputy.

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