More than 2,000 housing developments across the Republic of Ireland remain unfinished reflecting a significant reduction in construction activity in 2011.

According to the National Housing Survey over 700 developments have been finished but the amount that remain unfinished is in the thousands.

Of the 2,876 developments inspected in the survey, 2,066 are still unfinished and almost 90% of those were mainly inactive sites at the time of the inspection.

A total of 17,872 dwellings surveyed are listed as being at a further stage of completion, while about half of those are described as being nearly complete.

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But in a more positive note the survey found a 20% reduction in houses listed as complete and vacant, in comparison with the 23,250 recorded as such last year.

It is however understood that it could take five years or longer to clear the scourge of ghost estates scattered in towns and cities up and down the country with Sligo, Cavan, Leitrim, Roscommon and Longford counties the worst affected.

Minister for Housing and Planning Willie Penrose said that the survey shows a significant reduction in construction activity in 2011 since last year, with 43% fewer active sites this year.

Penrose said that there is no magic wand to solve the problem and that although he has seen improvements in the level of engagement between developers, local authorities, residents, financial institutions and the department under the National Coordinating Committee, much remains to be done, and "the problem would be around for some years to come".

Meanwhile he explained that the slowdown in housing construction on other sites highlights the need for vigilence and responsiveness in dealing with the management of partly completed housing developments.

(LB/BMcC)