CORK County has the highest number of partially occupied unfinished housing estates in Ireland, according to the most recent survey carried out by the Housing Agency.

It found that Cork County had 16 unfinished estates that consisted of a total of 1,513 units with 510 units being lived in by county residents.

The report also showed that there were 25 ghost estates across the county at various stages of completion.

According to the collated figures, another 157 units are classed as ‘near completion.’

As well as this, a further 616 units had their planning expired, meaning they can no longer be built.

According to the figures, these numbers are a dramatic drop from 2016 which recorded 86 unfinished housing developments on the Government register.

Between 2016 and 2017 there was a drop of over half, 55.4%, in the number of ghost estates in Cork County.

Fianna Fáil Councillor for the Carrigaline-Ballincollig municipal district Seamus McGrath said the progress over the past few years has to be acknowledged, but he said he empathised with residents living in unfinished estates.

“It must be acknowledged that significant progress has been made in recent years in reducing the number of unfinished estates.

“However, it’s clear that the momentum must be maintained as there are still too many developments which have not been completed.

“It is very frustrating for residents in such estates as often there can be ongoing issues with maintenance of services such as roads, footpaths, public lighting and so on.

“Of course, it is unacceptable to have to live in an estate which has stalled and in some cases for many years.

“Very often there is no certainty as to when developments will be completed and this is can be extremely frustrating for residents.”