Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 439: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that banks, covered by the banking guarantee, are providing necessary resources to complete unfinished housing estates; if a comparison has been carried out between Irish banks and foreign banks who formerly traded here in regard to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27399/11]

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 Irish Banking Federation is among the key stakeholders participating on the Committee which also includes representatives from my Department, local authorities, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, NAMA and the construction sector. 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 already 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 to date 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, both domestic and foreign owned, and/or bond holders, thereby obviating the need to use Exchequer resources to fund such work.