Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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My Department conducted Unfinished Housing Developments surveys with assistance from all local authorities between 2010 and 2017. The initial and consequent surveys were focused on a particular period of time from 2007 onwards (during the economic downturn). A Progress Report was prepared each year based on the data and analysis from each survey. All reports and auxiliary data are available on my Department’s website at the following link:

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Approximately 3,000 developments were surveyed in 2010.  Since then, as outlined in the 2017 Report, the number of unfinished housing developments reduced by 91% to 256 developments.  In addition, the 2017 Report shows that 74% of local authority areas now contain less than 10 unfinished developments, with four local authority areas having no occupied unfinished developments.

The Department’s Unfinished Housing Developments scheme is now closed and I have no current plans to allocate additional public funds in relation to unfinished developments.

In relation to the housing estate referenced, there is no record of it on the list of ‘unfinished’ estates within the aforementioned survey and it appears from consultation with Kerry County Council that the original planning application was submitted in 1997 with final approval granted in 1999 thereby predating the 2007 and onwards criteria for developments to be included in the Unfinished Housing Development Survey. Therefore, this particular development fell outside the remit of the 'unfinished housing developments survey' and consequently was not included in the 2013 list of unfinished housing estates.

For reference, a list of unfinished housing estates can also be found under the ‘unfinished’ tab layer on the MyPlan website available at the following link:.

Local authorities will continue to assess the best options for resolution of unfinished developments and/or developments that are to be taken in charge. In this regard, Kerry County Council are best placed to provide further guidance on the above specified development.