Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a circular has been distributed to local authorities regarding unfinished housing estates within the past six months; the stipulations of such circulars; the response or action which was yielded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11510/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department issued circular letter PD 1/06 on 25 January 2006 reminding local authorities of their obligations under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in taking in charge of estates. Each local authority has been directed to establish a policy addressing certain specified issues on taking in charge of housing estates to be agreed by the members of the authority, which must be reported to those members on a regular basis and at least once annually. The circular letter also states that the existence of a management company to maintain elements of common buildings, carry out landscaping and so forth must not impact upon the decision by the authority to take in charge roads and related infrastructure where a request to do so is made.

The circular letter also directed each local authority to submit a report to my Department detailing how each local authority is performing in taking in charge of estates. The specific information sought related to the anticipated number of housing estates which will be taken in charge this year and how many houses will be affected; the number of housing estates that have not yet been taken in charge whose planning permission expired more than two and less than seven years ago; the number of housing estates which are finished or unfinished in line with the relevant planning permission; the action being taken to resolve the issue of unfinished estates; whether the planning authority has a stated policy in regard to taking in charge of housing estates; the average length of time it takes to take an estate in charge; and whether a national policy on taking in charge would assist and if so the issues such a policy should address.

These reports are currently being received and collated in my Department. I will consider the question of any further guidance on taking in charge thereafter.