Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 17 June 2025

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed)

2:00 am

Mr. Pat Fitzpatrick:

I know we have been talking about the larger sites but to come back to the smaller sites, we are operating a land acquisition fund as well, which supports local authorities. There have been a smaller number of sites but they are smaller scale and they are the type that support 15 to 24 units. We do that to support local authorities. Where local authorities identify suitable land, even in those areas, the land acquisition fund is available. The affordable housing fund can be available in certain respects. Part V is available to deliver in those areas. Part V probably requires more market level delivery so that is the bigger challenge.

As I said, there are opportunities for local authorities themselves. As Mr. Coleman said, the LDA cannot do everything. It is focusing on scale. Local authorities are an additional resource in this space and they are delivering projects with quite a number of homes on land that they have identified and purchased themselves. That is an important consideration in those communities.