Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

153. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which the local authorities in County Kildare can avail of the funding provided for in budget 2014 in respect of unfinished estates where bonding arrangements are insufficient to meet completion costs; the number of such estates identified under this heading in County Kildare; when the relevant funding is likely to be made available; the extent to which such funds have been requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3161/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Budget 2014 contains a special provision, in the form of a targeted €10 m Special Resolution Fund (SRF), to further assist in addressing the legacy of unfinished housing developments. The Local Government (Household Charge) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 prescribe such developments, 58 of which are located in Co. Kildare.

The SRF has been proposed to encourage the resolution of the remaining tranche of unfinished developments identified in the National Housing Development Survey 2013 and, particularly, those developments not likely to be resolved in the normal way through solely developer/owner/funder action because of the presence of specific financial barriers. It is envisaged that the SRF should be particularly targeted to address the remaining unfinished developments with residents living in them and, in particular, any developments that local authorities identified, for the purposes of the Local Property Tax waiver, as in a seriously problematic condition.

In December 2013, my Department wrote to local authorities, including Kildare County Council, seeking proposals for funding support under the SRF and the deadline for receipt of applications is 28 February 2014. Submissions will then be evaluated by my Department and funding allocations made to local authorities as soon as possible thereafter.

My Department will support SRF proposals capable of delivering significant and lasting impact in relation to the quality of the resolution process itself and improved conditions for residents. It is hoped that the SRF will enable very substantial progress to be made in resolving as many of the remaining unfinished developments as possible.