The homeowners in the Estate can make a request to have the estate taken in charge as per Section180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000
https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2000/act/30/section/180/enacted/en/html. This applies to what are termed "historic estates", such as yours, in which there never was, and probably was never intended to be, an "owner's management company".
Whatever local authority you are in will have a "Taking-in Charge" policy document, which should set out local procedures. This policy should be available from their website or, at least, a reference to how you can obtain it. There is also some general guidance here:
https://www.opr.ie/wp-content/uploa...rge-of-Completed-Residential-Developments.pdf
However, although the written procedures seem relatively straightforward, you need to be prepared for a long and arduous process. All local authorities will have several estates looking to get taken in charge and they will have only a small budget for the process. In all likelihood they will try to fob you off.
Before an estate can be taken in charge all of the underground services (water and waste) have to be surveyed and, where necessary, remediated to bring them up to standard. Given the age of your estate, it is likely that remediation will be required. Ideally the developer should do this but in 99.9% likelihood your developer will have long ago wiped his hands of this. The company he used to develop the estate probably has gone out of business ages ago. The LC may try to say there is nothing they can do in these circumstances but once the residents have made a valid application under the terms of the Act (and the guidelines in the local policy) it this their responsibility. They should have pursued the developer about this years ago. You may have to pursue them doggedly about this - did they pursue the developer, did they draw down the developer's bond or did they let it lapse? Most probably the bond is long gone so the LC has been asleep as to their responsibilities along the way.
You will not be able to get anywhere on this on your own. Is there a Residents' Association? The LC will only pay attention to you if it comes through such a channel. The Residents Association will have to be energetic and will to stay the course on this one - and it will probably be a long course. The LC will probably want the residents to bear some of the costs (they push for all of the costs if they can). The Residents will have to decide if they are prepared to pay any ball at all on this or try to battle the LC to pay it all. The Residents will also have to organise a local "plebisite" - in effect collecting signatures from homeowners for a taking-in charge application. But this can wait until your are up and running, organised and tested the appetite of the homeowners for the process. It is imporant that the residents are aware of the issues that can arise if this not addressed. Who clears blocked drains now? Who fills potholes? Has any re-surfacing been done since the estate was built. What would happen, for example, if there was a major backup in the sewers? Or a sewer damaged by a tree root? If it is not in charge the LC will not want to know.
I would advise that this is addressed at the Residents meeting first. If they think they are up for it I suggest that they look for local political support - councillors and/or a local TD. Look for someone who is very familiar with the process - preferably someone who has helped another estate somewhere through the process. Also someone the group can collectively work with.
The RA may also need to take some legal advice. This is not necessary at the outset but may arise if there is an impasse. You might do some exploration though on a solicitor who is familiar with such matters. As you see, some local fundraising among the residents may arise also.
I am not saying all this to daunt you. On the contrary, it is to be prepared for the road ahead. Make sure the Residents Committee is aware that they are in for a long journey.
By the way, who pays for the public lighting on the estate? Who fixes broken lights or replaces bulbs? I doubt the developer is doing it or paying for it. If it is the LC then they have partially taken charge of the estate - the public lighting is in charge of the LC. But the roads, etc is a separate issue.
Here is an example of a Taking-in Charge Policy
https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https://www.waterfordcouncil.ie/media/planning/Adopted%20Taking%20in%20charge%20policy%2014%20July%202008.doc&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK
