18/02/2011

Gov Pledges Assistance To 'Ghost Estates'

Ireland's unfinished housing developments are to receive some €5 million in financial assistance, according to a Government announcement today.

The Department of the Environment said it would provide local authorities with the means to tackle problems related to unfinished housing developments, such as health and safety hazards.

The announcement comes in the wake of the ‘interim analysis and findings’ of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments.

According to the Department of the Environment: "The two most critical matters the Group considered were public safety and the living conditions of residents in unfinished developments.

"There are approximately 400 housing developments, which are particularly problematic and will be the focus for initial action."

Housing Minister Michael Finneran announced that €5 million would be provided to local authorities to deal with “immediate safety issues and works to improve living conditions for existing residents”.

Mr Finneran told the advisory group that the estates in need of urgent work included 52 in the Cork County Council area, 34 in Cavan and 23 in Donegal. However Chief Executive of the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency John O'Connor described the list as "not definitive".

Many of the so called 'ghost estates' were the result of Ireland's property bubble and the increase in demand for housing, which was often sought as simply an investment opportunity while prices took a stratospheric rise.

(DW)

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