Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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29. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the estates that are to be demolished due to their unfinished state; the criteria for deciding on these developments; and the timeframe in which these demolitions are expected to happen. [51923/13]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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This is about the unfinished housing estates and the timeframe for their expected demolition. How many estates are involved?

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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A total of 40 estates are earmarked for demolition in 2014. They have been identified at this stage but, for commercially sensitive reasons, we are not able to give the Deputy their locations. We expect to proceed with that in 2014, with the co-operation of the unfinished estates resolution panel and the local authorities.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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One of the problems with these unfinished estates is that it is planned to demolish so many. We are told that some of them will be demolished because of their location. The houses might be perfect but they might be demolished because there is no demand in those areas. That would be a tragedy. The Minister must examine that very carefully. In addition, many estates have been built that are not up to the proper standard.

It is not necessary to name them because the Minister is well aware of many of them. What steps will be taken to secure some estates which have deteriorated further? The Minister previously allocated approximately €6 million to secure them. Are further plans in place to secure some unfinished estates, many of which have not been taken in charge by local authorities? The process of taking estates in charge must also be expedited because many people are languishing in them.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is sad to note that estates are being demolished when my local area lacks new homes. Will the Minister provide funding for housing in counties such as Kildare in which there is a shortage of local authority houses?

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Deputies correctly referred to demand for social housing and the need for new initiatives to address social housing provision. I alluded to a number of initiatives being taken by the Department. We are also reviewing housing policy to ascertain whether more can be done.

The condition of the 40 housing estates to be demolished is such that it would cost a substantial amount to rectify them. Legal issues also arise and the long process of obtaining compulsory purchase orders would probably be required. The option the unfinished estates committee is considering for the locations in question is a last resort. I suspect the 40 estates out of a total number of 1,500 unfinished housing estates are located in isolated rural areas rather than major urban areas.

The taking in charge of estates is a matter for local authorities, although I agree with Deputy Dessie Ellis that they should be more proactive in this regard. This is one of the issues I will raise with the County and City Managers Association in 2014 in an effort to advance the protocols and implement new measures to have more estates taken in charge.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Question No. 30 cannot be taken as the Deputy who tabled it is not present.