Statement by Paudie Coffey, T.D. on progress of unfinished housing developments

“Government is moving into the final phase of tackling unfinished housing developments”

Minister for Housing, Planning and Co-ordination of Construction 2020, Paudie Coffey, TD, today published the third annual progress report on tackling the issue of unfinished housing developments which reveals a “two thirds drop in the unfinished developments since 2010 from nearly 3,000 to 992 and 271 developments resolved in 2014 alone”.

Minister Coffey was speaking at the launch of the report which also includes the results from the 2014 National Housing Development Survey which tracks progress on unfinished housing developments since 2010. Among the key findings of this year’s survey are:

• 65% decrease in the number of unfinished developments;

• 81% decrease in the number of vacant homes in remaining unfinished developments;

• 271 developments resolved in 2014; and

• First recorded increase in construction activity on unfinished developments in four years.

Of the 992 unfinished developments identified in the 2014 survey, Minister Coffey indicated that his objective is to resolve as many more developments as possible with a particular focus on the 766 of these developments with residents.

The Minister also highlighted the impact of the Budget 2014 Special Resolution Fund under which €6.75 million has now been drawn down by local authorities benefitting many more residents. The Minister added that due to the success of the SRF in 2014:

“the momentum created in 2014 will be continued with an allocation of a further €3.35 million for 2015”.

The Minister also highlighted the completion of the Public Safety Initiative stating that:

“because applications for such funding have dwindled to a trickle, further indicating progress on this front. I intend to discontinue the scheme in 2014 as it has achieved its objectives.”

In conclusion, the Minister signalled that work in this area is reaching the final phase and he hoped that further substantial progress would be evident in the year ahead stating that:

“my objective for 2015 is to secure the resolution of as many more developments as possible and I assure you that I will not spare any of my energy in making that aspiration a reality.”