Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government when the high level expert group on unfinished housing developments will complete its work; and the date on which it will publish its final report. [11503/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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The high-level advisory group on unfinished housing developments, established in October 2010 following the publication of my Department's national housing development survey database, is identifying practical and policy solutions to address the difficulties associated with unfinished housing developments effectively and promptly. On foot of the interim analysis and findings of the advisory group, published on 17 February 2011, initial funding of €5 million is being made available to local authorities to deal with immediate safety issues and works to improve the living conditions for existing residents. My Department has put in place the necessary arrangements for local authorities to make applications for funding in the most urgent and serious cases.

The initial findings of the advisory group indicate that action on unfinished housing developments will require a collaborative approach by all stakeholders working together to co-ordinate their efforts to resolve the unfinished developments; an immediate focus on public safety aspects and critical issues affecting residents of such developments; a structured and prioritised approach by local authorities supported by central resources; the use of site resolution plans and, where appropriate, innovative options such as residents and community involvement, co-operatives and self-build within the resolution process; and national co-ordination and monitoring of regionally and locally organised efforts to tackle the problem.

I received the final report of the advisory group on unfinished housing developments on 6 May 2011. I am considering its findings and recommendations as a matter of urgency and will bring proposed actions and recommendations to the Government for approval shortly with a view to publishing the report as soon as possible thereafter.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I am glad that the Minister of State received the report on 6 May. We do not want the Government to convene expert groups that fail to deliver quick outcomes. This issue is of great concern. The €5 million available to complete unfinished sites and housing estates can be put to good use. I know of applications that have been made for that money that the Minster of State should examine. In some cases there is not much money involved, but €5 million is still not adequate to deal with the number of estates.

The previous Government commissioned a report that studied the number of unfinished estates. Many of these sites are unsafe. They are unfit for human habitation. They have half finished roads, no lights, unsafe access routes and building materials stacked all over them. I would like the Minister of State to look at the funding to make those sites safe. This has to be a key priority.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I agree with Deputy Stanley and I have the commitment in this area. The €5 million is an initial amount and it is provided by the State to the local authorities. Most people in the House know that it is the developers and the owners of unfinished housing developments, or the receivers when they are appointed, who have the primary legal obligation to address outstanding problems associated with these developments. I want any public funds spent under this provision to be recouped from the developers and the receivers. The public have put enough money into developments and I do not want to be seen as an easy touch.

There are four categories of development. The most important is where the development might be in place but there is no on-site activity, yet there is significant planning, building control compliance and public safety issues, or where the developer or site owner cannot be contacted and the estate is basically abandoned. This fourth category of development is the area on which I will be concentrating as a matter of priority. If there is additional money, I will try to provide it. Many submissions have already been made and these are now being assessed, and I will try to ensure that adequate funding is provided. I would like developers also to play a role.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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How much of the €5 million allocated to deal with the issue of unsafe estates has been drawn down to date by local authorities?

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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None to date. They have only been recently received and they are being assessed.

I do not want to see any delay. Deputy Stanley referred to reports being prepared and then gathering dust. I do not want to see this gathering dust. I want to ensure that there is action on foot of the recommendations because, as the Deputy will be aware, it nearly took a Herculean effort to get everybody on board in relation to the advisory group.

It was a fairly high-level advisory group and now that we have recommendations, let us act on them. The recommendations will not satisfy everybody. All I can say from my preliminary perusal is that they are a good start. That is what it is, just a start.

I certainly would be encouraging the Department. There will be no delay or obfuscation on my part. I want this to work. My primary concern is the residents and those who paid big money for houses in those estates, some of which are deemed unsafe or fail to comply with the building regulations.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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On solutions, some of the estates would have been covered by bonds. The only institution which gave a bond in perpetuity was Anglo Irish Bank. All of the other bonds have time limits on them. Would the Minister of State consider looking at the embargo in the context of employing persons who can call some of those bonds in where they are at risk of elapsing and then it will fall back on the local authority? I am concerned that we will miss an opportunity with some of those bonds that have a fixed term of something like seven years.

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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A short reply from the Minister of State. We are out of time.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Where there are bonds attaching that are active and alive, I would be surprised if any local authority did not ensure that it would be taking all steps, including legal recourse, so that the bonds available are utilised in the context of dealing with the particular problems that have arisen, but if Deputy Catherine Murphy brings a particular case to my attention, I certainly will pursue it vigorously with the local authority because this is a vital aspect. In fairness, Deputy Murphy raised a significant aspect. There will be recommendations in the context of the report concerning the issue of bonds and how they might be dealt with in the future.