Seanad debates

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

Arts Funding

Unfinished Housing Estates

1:00 pm

Photo of Deirdre CluneDeirdre Clune (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I raise this issue following the announcement by Cork County Council this week that it is to move ahead with a public consultation on the development of a new town on the north-west side of Cork city that will accommodate up to 12,500 homes. It is a relatively long-term project but nevertheless much surprise and frustration followed this announcement in the media this week. It comes against a background of a collapsed property market, with "For Sale" signs all over Cork. We have heard of distressed mortgages and people being put out of their homes. NAMA has a land bank and is taking control of loans associated with property developments. Today I saw on the Internet reference to unfinished housing estates in County Cork which included examples which have not been started and only exist in the form of planning permission. There are no details of the extent to which housing estates are unfinished but the list is lengthy. There are 132 such estates.

What is being done about these unfinished housing estates? There has been a property collapse so why are we talking about developing a new town when we should be getting to grips with the problems we have already? The council statement has let down people who are finding it difficult in the areas in which they live. They want to know what the State is doing in the guise of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government or Cork city and county councils. People want answers to what is being done in their areas and the news that a new town is to be developed in the city is very frustrating.

I have examined figures from the recent census and compared them to the last census in 2006. The population in the centre of Cork city is dropping and the county population has increased. We must consider what can be done in the greater city area and revitalise the city centre before beginning to develop new towns. I know the Minister launched a sustainable development strategy last week.

Photo of Dinny McGinleyDinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Senator for raising this matter which continues to affect the lives of thousands of families across the country. Despite the enormity of the problem the Government inherited, we have made significant progress in alleviating some of the problems associated with unfinished housing estates across the country, a large number of which are to be found in County Cork.

Progress to date on unfinished housing developments has required a multi-faceted approach which has included the establishment of an advisory group on unfinished housing developments, the publication of a report in 2011, Resolving Ireland's Unfinished Housing Developments, and the establishment of a €5 million fund under the public safety initiative. To date, there are 167 estates within the initiative, in respect of which submissions have been received in the case of 150. So far, there have been approvals of funding totalling €3.21 million for 132 developments, with a further 35 estates to be allocated funds. We expect the final outturn to be in the order of €3.5 million.

The establishment of the national co-ordination committee on unfinished housing developments, chaired by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, has delivered a code of practice for stakeholders which defines the rights, responsibilities and inter-relationships of the key parties involved. It has published a guide for residents living in unfinished housing developments, formulated site resolution plans for stakeholders in estates to agree the aspects of their developments which remain incomplete and require resolution, and established a legislative review group to review legislation with a view to strengthening or amending provisions to take account of the issues associated with unfinished housing developments. It is also examining the issue of bonds and their adequacy in the light of recent experience.

The national housing development surveys in 2010 and 2011 established an authoritative baseline analysis of unfinished housing developments to assist in fully understanding the scale and extent of the issues involved. The 2012 national housing development survey is under way and will prove to be an invaluable resource in monitoring the current state of the housing market and inform the future direction of our policies in this area.

The Minister of State is totally committed to this agenda and takes a particular interest in all aspects of resolving the spectrum of issues which have arisen. The issues surrounding unfinished housing developments are numerous and it will take some time and a lot of effort to resolve them. The initiatives I have outlined demonstrate the determination of the Government to tackle these difficulties and reintroduce equilibrium to the housing construction sector which will, in time, allow it to revert to a position where it will function properly.

Photo of Deirdre CluneDeirdre Clune (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Can the Minister of State give me any specific information on progress in the Cork area in resolving the issues involved in unfinished housing estates?

Photo of Dinny McGinleyDinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have the total number of developments, but we do not have the figures on a county basis. If they are available in the Department, they will be conveyed to the Senator.

The Seanad adjourned at 6.55 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 14 June 2012.