Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, to the House and wish her well in her role at the Cabinet table. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to Deputy Willie Penrose, whom she succeeded in the Department, and I commend him on the excellent work he carried out when he was part of the Department. It is ironic that on the day the Army barracks closes in Mullingar, the issue that caused him to resign his office, we are again discussing housing difficulties under various headings in the Seanad. I commend the former Minister of State as he listened to what was said in this House by those on all sides and acted within days on one matter, a debate we had regarding unfinished housing estates. Various proposals were made to the Minister of State, with one being to contact NAMA to try to get money for the estates for which that body was responsible. Within ten days of being in the House, that was done by him. Deputy Penrose was very positive with every opportunity he had to come to the House. He did not dwell on the past but dealt with the present and future, which is how we should move forward.

I will briefly discuss unfinished housing estates, which is a human tragedy for many families. There are families and children living in these unfinished or so-called ghost estates with no lighting, manhole covers or footpaths, or where the roads are potholed or unfinished. They are a few of the difficulties. In my own county there were 38 unfinished housing estates identified by Cavan County Council but what criteria was used to determine what is unfinished? My understanding is that where there were two or three unfinished houses, even in rural Ireland, the estate would be regarded as unfinished.

A detailed survey was carried out in late 2010, with 2,846 housing developments surveyed, and an advisory group was established to bring forward recommendations on unfinished estates. That group reported to the then Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, in June 2011. I understand the survey shows 1,655 estates where a substantial amount of work remains. The Minister of State indicated that €1.4 million of the €5 million allocation has been drawn down and she expects a further €2 million to be drawn down this year. Given the number of housing estates involved - 1,655 - the €5 million allocation amounts to only €3,200 per estate, which is an inadequate sum. Does the Minister of State envisage the allocation being increased?

In County Cavan, 12 estates were identified which need urgent repair. To date, Cavan County Council has received little money from the Department for this purpose. I ask the Minister of State to respond.