Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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1363. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the preparation and finalisation of a national protocol with regard to the taking in charge of estates served by developer-provided infrastructure, such as waste water tank and shores, will be finalised in order that local authorities can proceed to take these estates in charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36202/18]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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1410. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he plans to invite proposals for the forthcoming national taking in charge scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36799/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1363 and 1410 together.

My Department launched the National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) in April 2016 to trial new approaches and working methods in supporting and accelerating overall national and local action on the taking-in-charge process of housing estates, including estates with developer-provided water services infrastructure (DPI). Under the terms of the NTICI, which was underpinned by €10 million in funding, developments subject to valid taking-in-charge applications were eligible for inclusion in the associated call for funding proposals. Ultimately, €7.7 million of the allocated funding was paid to local authorities in respect of 330 developments, containing some 13,400 homes.

Findings and recommendations from the NTICI process will be included in a report on the initiative that I intend to publish shortly. The publication of the NTICI report will be of value to local authorities and other stakeholders in applying the lessons from the pilot authorities, in a more general roll-out of a streamlined approach to taking-in-charge. I expect that the initiative will contribute to further streamlining of the taking-in-charge process, through, for example, securing coordination with capital works by Irish Water.

In addition, the National Development Plan includes provision of €31 million for the period 2018-2021 for DPI. This is clear evidence of the Government's commitment to transition from the pilot phase under NTICI to a programme phase, commencing with an estimates provision of €3 million in 2018.