Written answers

Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Unfinished Housing Estates

10:00 pm

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 597: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an estate (details supplied) in County Kildare was not included or classified as an unfinished estate in the National Housing Survey 2010 or updated version 2011, despite the estate appearing to be a category 4 unfinished estate - inactive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26834/12]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The National Housing Survey was initiated to identify unfinished or partially completed housing developments. Finished housing developments (for more than three years and where more than 10% of the units remained unoccupied) were also included. In the context of the survey, a 'housing development' comprised of two or more dwellings set out in free standing, semi-detached, terraced, duplex and/or apartment formats. An 'unfinished housing development' is one where the approved dwellings and their associated services and amenities had not been completed and occupied. 'Completed' in this context does not necessarily mean that all the works required in terms of building regulations and/or the planning permission have been completed.

Planning permissions may well have many conditions attached which relate to different physical aspects of a project. Minor outstanding works, such as individual house electricity connections, entrance gates, decoration etc. would not be regarded as significant. A development will be regarded as finished if an Inspector considers, on the basis of a normal visual on-site inspection, that the following have been substantially completed: dwellings, roads and footpaths, lighting, water supply, waste water infrastructure, open spaces as defined for the purposes of this survey. In cases where one or more phases of a development had been completed but no work has commenced on subsequent phases, then the development would be regarded as being unfinished.

Louisa Park, Leixlip, Co.Kildare was not included in the 2010 or 2011 surveys as it was deemed not to meet the criteria for inclusion.

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