James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

Funding for the housing activation office will come under the national development plan, which is currently being agreed. Limerick City and County Council has received local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, funding for the delivery of the first two phases of a new distributor road at Mungret. LIHAF funding approval of €22.1 million was given, of which €6.6 million was funded by the Department and the balance by Limerick City and County Council. Both phases funded by LIHAF are now complete, with the second section of the road opening in April 2024. Up to the end of 2024, this road has allowed 203 homes to be delivered, including 99 cost-reduced units. Funding approval of more than €18 million is in place to support the delivery of 181 affordable purchase units by 2027 with the support of the affordable housing fund. In total, the proposed mixed tenure development will comprise 181 affordable purchase homes and two community dwellings for people with disabilities, which are being delivered by the Land Development Agency, together with 69 social houses for older persons and a crèche to be delivered by Clúid AHB. I welcome Limerick's ambition in this regard.

Limerick City and County Council has informally advised the Department that a funding shortfall of €5 million has been identified. It is understood that this funding requirement relates to the infrastructural realm. We will work with Limerick City and County Council to help meet its ambition.

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