Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to appraise the effectiveness of the use of the fund for making safe unfinished estates; and if any further funding or measures are required. [13089/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Under the Public Safety Initiative my Department has made allocations totalling some €2.59 million to 21 local authorities from the €5 million funding allocation made available to address immediate safety issues in 2011. 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. A provision of €2m has been made for 2012 and my Department will be making further allocations as applications are received from local authorities and assessed.

This is part of the overall national effort that I am coordinating through the work of the National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments. This Committee oversees implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government's response to the recommendations. It includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, 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. That report will include an analysis of the way in which the funding provided under the public safety initiative has been applied.