Meath TD Dominic Hannigan is introducing a bill to speed up the process of council's taking over estates abandoned by bankrupt builders.

The Labour Deputy is introducing a Private Members Bill in the Dáil today aimed at reducing the time it takes to get an unfinished estate taken in charge by local authorities, down from seven to three years.

He said: "At present people have to wait seven years before there is even the chance of an unfinished development being taken in charge. This is not acceptable particularly for families with young children who may be living in unsafe conditions. We have to be able to deal with this issue more speedily."

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Deputy Hannigan's Planning and Development (Taking in Charge of Estates) Bill 2012 also aims to address problems around residents voting rights.

He continued: "I have been aware of issues around inconclusive plebiscites often involving absentee landlords or others who did not attend residents meetings on these issues. My bill proposes that we adopt a Law Reform Commission recommendation which requires a majority of all votes cast at a meeting rather that a majority of all those qualified to vote."

Deputy Hannigan's Taking in Charge of Estates Bill will be considered in the new Friday sittings of the Dáil introduced by the Government to allow backbench TD's bring forward legislation.

(CD)