Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 979: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the regulations or legislation in place to assist local authorities in the taking over of housing developments when the initial contractor is insolvent or is no longer trading; and if he will introduce legislation to assist homeowners in this regard to ensure that local authorities take control of these developments. [33625/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that, where an estate is completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority in accordance with the planning permission, the planning authority must initiate taking in charge procedures as soon as possible following a request to do so by the developer or by the majority of the owners or occupiers. Similarly, where an estate has not been completed to the standard outlined in the planning permission and the planning authority has not taken enforcement action within the appropriate period, the planning authority must also initiate taking in charge procedures if requested to do so by the owners/occupiers. The decision as whether any particular estates should be taken in charge is ultimately one for the elected members of the planning authority.

Sections 34(4)(g) and 180(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provide respectively that a planning authority may attach conditions to a planning permission requiring the giving of adequate security for the satisfactory completion of a proposed development and, if a development is not subsequently completed satisfactorily, may apply the security given for the satisfactory completion of that development.

My Department's Development Management Guidelines (June 2007) and policy guidance on the Taking in Charge of Residential Developments (February 2008) advise that it is essential that planning permissions for residential developments are subject to conditions under which an acceptable security is provided by way of bond, cash deposit or otherwise so as to secure the satisfactory completion of those developments. The guidance states that the security given should be adequate to ensure the proper completion of roads, footpaths, water mains, sewers, lighting and open space and the lodgment of the security should be coupled with an agreement that would empower the authority to realise the amount of the security at an appropriate time.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 980: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the local authorities that have been authorised to switch houses which were previously identified as affordable homes for resale to social housing to let; the way this decision interfaces with the planning acts in terms of consultation with residents or opportunities to make representations; the legal implication for home owners who bought their homes on the basis of planning permissions for private and affordable housing only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33751/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Where a local authority has a stock of unsold affordable housing units on hand and has exhausted all options for the sale of those units as affordable housing, the Planning and Development Acts 2000 — 2008 provide that such units may be used for another purpose connected with the functions of the authority, including social housing. In terms of funding, this is subject to prioritisation within the authority's social housing programme and the approval of my Department.

Local authorities have been advised by my Department on options for bringing unsold affordable homes into use, including the options of the temporary transfer of affordable homes for use under the Rental Accommodation Scheme or under the new social leasing arrangements, or in certain limited cases, for transfer to the permanent social housing stock. Insofar as the latter approach is concerned, approvals have issued to the following local authorities:- Athy Town Council; Cobh Town Council; Dublin City Council; Fermoy Town Council; Kilkenny County Council; Kinsale Town Council; Laois County Council; Limerick City Council; Midleton Town Council; Sligo County Council; Templemore Town Council and Wexford County Council.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 981: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if extra funding will be provided to Cork County Council for the number of idle local authority houses that require maintenance in view of the large housing waiting lists in north Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33822/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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In April 2009, my Department notified Cork County Council of an allocation of €550,000 to support its efforts to bring vacant housing stock back into viable use and to improve the energy efficiency of these dwellings. A programme of works proposed by the Council was approved by my Department in June 2009. No request has been made by the Council for additional funding to expand this programme. In addition, the Council received approval under its 2009 Improvement Works Programme to use €395,000 of its own resources to improve a number of void properties throughout the County.