Written answers

Thursday, 16 June 2011

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Unfinished Housing Developments

6:00 pm

Photo of Michael ColreavyMichael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the high level expert group on unfinished housing developments; and if he will give any further proposals that have come from their work. [15648/11]

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of uptake there has been for the €5 million for works on unfinished housing developments; and if he will provide details of works which have been carried out. [15649/11]

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 27 together.

Last week I published the final report on Resolving Ireland's Unfinished Housing Developments - Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with my Department's response to the recommendations, Resolving Unfinished Housing Developments – Response to the Advisory Group Report on Unfinished Housing Developments. Both reports are available on my Department's website - www.environ.ie.

The main recommendations of the Advisory Group were in respect of:

driving a more co-ordinated and partnership approach between stakeholders;

tackling public safety as an immediate priority;

strengthening the legislative and policy framework to incentivise real engagement by developers, site owners and funders in working with local authorities and residents in resolving unfinished housing developments; and

building confidence in the housing sector.

I have outlined a range of actions to address these objectives, including the urgent resolution of public safety and other critical issues seriously impacting on the living conditions and quality of life for residents of unfinished developments; the development of formal liaison protocols between the various stakeholders - developers, financial institutions, residents, local authorities, approved housing bodies and my Department – to facilitate the sharing of information; and the prioritisation by local authorities of a number of unfinished developments to act as lead projects to demonstrate what can be achieved, building on the best practice Guidance Manual on Managing and Resolving Unfinished Housing Developments, which will be published later this month.

I have made the first allocations, totalling some €1.5 million, to ten local authorities from the €5 million funding allocation made available to address immediate safety issues and works to improve the living conditions of existing residents on unfinished estates. The types of works that have been approved to date include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting, and other works to secure sites. I will be making further allocations as applications are received from local authorities and assessed by my Department.

I am establishing a National Co-ordination Committee to oversee implementation of the Advisory Group's Report and the Government's response. The Committee will include key stakeholders including my Department, local authorities, developers, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, financial institutions, NAMA and residents. The first meeting of the Committee will be held shortly.

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