New figures show that the amount of unfinished housing developments around the country has decreased by 75%.
The number of unfinished estates had dropped from around 3,000 in 2010 to just 668 this year.
Minister of State for Housing Paudie Coffey said that 324 developments had been "resolved" this year.
He said that efforts would now concentrate on the 492 estates that have occupied houses.
Mr Coffey said the issue of unfinished estates is now entering the "final phase".
He said a decision will have to be made in what to do with unfinished housing that appeared to have little potential of becoming economically viable.
The Minister said that the Government had give €10m to local authorities under the Special Resolution Fund to finish estates, which mainly involves work on unfinished roads and utility services as well as unfinished houses.
This money will not be recouped even though the housing market is recovering and private developers are expected to sell most of the remaining housing stock.
Minister Coffey also said some local authorities needed to "up their game" in finishing the estates and taking them in charge for maintenance.
Today's report showed that South Dublin County Council had reactivated 50% of unfinished developments with Dublin city and Galway city on 40%.
This compares with 6% for Tipperary and 7% for Louth.
The 492 unfinished developments that have residents include nearly 20,000 occupied units and nearly 8,000 vacant or incomplete.
Of the 176 empty developments only 34 are considered to be of "low potential" where demolition will be considered as an option.
So far around 100 housing units have been demolished.
