Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am chairing the national co-ordination committee on unfinished housing developments to oversee implementation of the report of the advisory group on unfinished housing developments, together with the Government's response to the recommendations. The committee includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, local authorities, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, NAMA and the construction sector. Real progress is being made with regard to the public safety works required to improve the living conditions of existing residents on some unfinished estates, and the committee is meeting on a regular basis to oversee this effort. The committee has produced a guidance manual on resolving and managing unfinished estates, a key stakeholders code of practice and a guide for residents living in unfinished housing developments, all of which are available at housing.ie.

My Department launched the public safety initiative, PSI, in March 2011, which provided funding to address immediate public safety issues. The types of works that have been approved to date under the PSI include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting and other works to secure sites. Under the PSI, my Department has made allocations totalling some ¤3.879 million to 21 local authorities from the funding made available, and to date a total of ¤2.515 million has been drawn down by local authorities. However, I know that this is not much consolation to the Senator if it does not apply in this particular case. The PSI provides funding only in instances where a developer has abandoned the development. I understand that in this particular case, the developer is merely inactive and has not actually abandoned the development. In such circumstances, the responsibility for the maintenance and resolution of issues surrounding the development are matters which need to be addressed between the developer and the relevant stakeholders and my Department has no remit in this regard. This development does not, at present, qualify for funding under the PSI. However, should circumstances change in this regard, Galway County Council may apply to my Department for funding under the PSI to address immediate public safety concerns on the development.

The situation is that the site is not abandoned, as such, but is inactive.