Minister says badly designed buildings will be 'demolished'

The Minister for Planning Ciaran Cuffe has said badly designed buildings in inappropriate locations will be demolished.

Mr Cuffe's comments follow the warning from NAMA this week that many unfinished houses in "ghost estates" will have to be knocked down.

It is estimated that up to 300,000 properties are lying empty around the country, but the Department of the Environment is currently trying to identify the exact number.

The Minister - who was speaking at the Irish Planning Institute conference in Tullamore - said he is very concerned about the impact of unsold and unfinished developments.