Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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16. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on work being carried out at an estate (details supplied); and if any further funds are required to give a timeframe for completion. [20484/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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An explosion occurred within a private house, one of a terrace of six houses, in this development in March 2012. Subsequently, Longford County Council established an expert steering group and appointed a firm of consulting engineers to investigate the cause of the explosion. A second explosion occurred in this development at the beginning of October 2012. The specific findings of the investigation carried out on behalf of the Council have been made available to residents of the terrace in Gleann Riada, as well as general advice to other residents in the estate. Longford County Council has also established a steering group to address the range of issues faced by the occupants of the Gleann Riada development and is liaising with the other State authorities involved, including the Health and Safety Authority.

My Department initially approved funding totalling €91,753.40 for Gleann Riada in August 2012 to cover the cost of addressing immediate public safety concerns. In November I approved further funding of €200,000 taking account of additional information which had been provided by Longford County Council in regard to public safety issues within the development.

Longford County Council has drawn down the development bond and, in conjunction with the funding received from my Department, carried out a range of works on the development. A comprehensive underground CCTV survey has been carried out on the estate, which highlighted the need for repair work on the foul and storm networks. This has been largely carried out and will be completed within the next month, as will further works to the internal road network. Issues regarding the public lighting, drainage, fencing and green areas have all been addressed. The Council has installed or improved vents, manholes and gullies to ensure the major issues which led to the explosion have been alleviated.

As this matter is currently the subject of legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.