Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 338: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps being taken in conjunction with the relevant local authority and a developer (details supplied) to urgently complete the unfinished estate of Castlemoyne, Balgriffin, Dublin 13, and remedy all outstanding defects for the benefit of existing residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24508/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I have established and 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 is meeting on a regular basis with the aim of publishing a report on progress achieved within the next 12 months. In the meantime, work is ongoing on implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group and 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.

To date, my Department has made allocations totalling some €2.16 million to fifteen local authorities from the €5 million funding allocation made available to address immediate safety issues. The types of works that have been approved include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting, and other works to secure sites. My Department will be making further allocations as applications are received from local authorities and assessed. Planning authorities are also making progress in securing the co-operation of developers, financial institutions and/or bond holders, thereby obviating the need to use Exchequer resources to fund such work.

Developers and owners of unfinished housing developments (or their receivers, where appointed) have the primary legal obligation in addressing outstanding problems associated with these developments. Any public funds expended under this provision should ultimately be recouped from the developer/receiver. Estates which fall under the direct control of NAMA, or receivers appointed by NAMA, are being managed by them and as a consequence do not fall within this scheme.

The recent national survey of Unfinished Housing Developments has identified that there are no serious health and safety issues on Phase 1 of Castlemoyne. In relation to Phase 2 of this development the unbuilt areas have been fenced off. Fingal County Council has not identified this estate as being Category 4 – the only category being considered for funding under the public safety initiative – and has therefore not received any funding.