Bill of €15.4m for unfinished estates

Cork county manager Martin Riordan has said his cash-strapped local authority cannot wave a magic wand and fix an estimated 140 unfinished estates overnight.

He made his comments after it emerged that the council is carrying out a comprehensive audit of all unfinished estates to get an overview of how much it would cost to take them in charge.

Several of the estates — which are dotted all over the county — have inadequate sewerage treatment systems and Mr Riordan said they could cost up to €14m to rectify.

In addition, the council would also have to spend an estimated €10,000 annually maintaining each of the 140 systems, which would mean an extra expenditure each year of €1.4m.

Mr Riordan said that the council would prioritise ensuring sewerage systems were up to scratch because of health implications.

However, he said other issues had to be resolved in unfinished estates such as inadequate footpaths and public lighting, which would add even more to the overall costs.

Without help from central government, it is unlikely the council could foot such bills on its own.

Cork County council is encountering problems because a number of privately-run management companies — that were supposed to ensure services in estates were adequate — have collapsed.

And, some builders who were willing to finish off estates were unable to obtain the necessary money from financial institutions.

In response to queries from Cllr Kevin Murphy (FG), Mr Riordan said that the county engineer’s department was arranging to put a framework in place for consultants to look at the unfinished estates to determine the issues and likely cost of bringing them up to the appropriate standard.

Mr Murphy said the estates presented “a serious problem” for the council.

Several councillors said they had problems with unfinished estates in their areas.

Cllr Seán O’Connor (Ind) said in one estate in Cobh, a young mother and child were living in a house where the toilets did not work because of an inadequate sewerage system.

“I have four estates in Carrigaline that have still not been taken over by the council and they’re 30-years-old.

“We should refuse extensions of planning [permissions] until snag lists have been fixed and existing houses brought up to standard [by the developer],” Cllr John A Collins (FG) said.

His party colleague, Cllr Derry Canty, said the head of the Construction Industry Federation in Cork should be brought before a meeting of the council to discuss the issue.