asked the Minister for Local Government the directives that he has issued to local authorities with regard to the invoking of bonds lodged by builders who fail to complete work on building estates.

No such directives have issued. The invoking of a bond where an estate is not completed in compliance with the relevant planning permission is a matter for the planning authority.

In view of the hardship caused to so many residents of estates not only in Cork but throughout the country, would the Minister consider having a uniform approach among the local authorities and issuing a directive to advise them?

They have been advised, and the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 and 1976, enable planning authorities to attach a condition to a grant of planning permission requiring the giving of security for the satisfactory completion of housing estates, and enforcement action, including where appropriate, action on foot of any deed of covenant and bond may be taken by the planning authority where an estate is not completed in accordance with the terms of the relevant planning permission. There is nothing further we can do. This has been brought to the notice of local authorities on a number of occasions. However, if Deputy Fitzgerald has any particular instance in mind where he feels the local authority are not doing what they should do, perhaps he would bring it to my notice and I will remind them of their responsibilities.