Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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922. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline, in tabular form, the amount of funding that has been allocated to local authorities in counties Westmeath and Longford to date to address urgent public safety issues on unfinished housing estates; the number of developments in each county that have had safety works carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37907/13]

Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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923. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of unfinished housing developments in counties Longford and Westmeath that have had issues resovled and have had site resolution plans drawn up since the establishment of the national co-ordination committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37908/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 922 and 923 together.

I 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 Committee includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, local authorities, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, NAMA and the construction sector. Real progress is being made in tackling and resolving the issues faced by residents of unfinished estates and the Committee is meeting on a regular basis to oversee this effort. Under the Public Safety Initiative for Unfinished Housing Developments my Department has made allocations totalling some € 4.438 million to 2 3 local authorities from the funding made available to address immediate public safety issues. Of this, my Department has allocated some €1.158 million to Longford and Westmeath County Councils, as illustrated by the table.

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. To date, a total of €2.681 million has been drawn down across the local authority sector, of which €846,340 has been drawn down by Longford and Westmeath County Councils.

Site Resolution Plans (SRP’s) 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.

My Department does not gather details on the number of Site Resolution Plans in place in each local authority area; however, I have been advised that Longford and Westmeath County Councils have seen 52 and 28 SRP’s, respectively drawn up since their introduction. Of these, 26 and 17 respectively have had safety works carried out.

Longford County Council

Westmeath County Council