Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the options open to the many residents of unfinished housing estates throughout the country who are unable to access completion or maintenance works for their estates where the developer is either no longer trading or just uncooperative and uncontactable, where legal enforcement procedures by the local authorities can take prolonged periods of time and in many cases where serious safety concerns exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47088/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The resolution of the various issues presented by unfinished developments is one of the major challenges faced by my Department and local authorities. I am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments (NCC) to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government’s response to the recommendations. The NCC includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, local authorities, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, NAMA and the construction sector 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. Under the Public Safety Initiative (PSI), my Department has made allocations totalling some €3.549 million to 21 local authorities from the funding made available to address immediate public safety issues in 2011. The types of works that have been approved to date under the PSI include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting and other works to secure sites.

Site Resolution Plans (SRPs) have been identified by the NCC as a key tool in resolving issues associated with unfinished housing developments. Such plans enable stakeholders, including developers, local authorities, financial institutions, NAMA and residents, to collaborate in determining how best to pursue resolution of problematic sites. The process also entails working with stakeholders in identifying the best long-term solution for developments in terms of their configuration, use of vacant buildings and ownership. Such solutions also take account of the best interests of residents. The NCC has produced a Guidance Manual on Resolving and Managing Unfinished Estates, a Key Stakeholders Code of Practice, and a Guide for Residents Living in Unfinished Housing Developments, all of which are available at www.housing.ie.

The first Annual Progress Report of the NCC, published by my Department on 5 July, confirmed that, through the use of the SRP process, 211 estates have been completed and issues are now resolved. In respect of a further 523 estates, plans are now in place and in many of these cases work has commenced and significant progress will be achieved over the coming months. I anticipate that this progress will be reflected in the 2012 National Housing Development Survey now underway. The results of this Survey are expected later this year and will update the position on Site Resolution Plans.