Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will support the establishment of a consultation forum for the future development of Columb Barracks, Mullingar by the Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15700/24]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the progress being made by the Land Development Agency in providing affordable and social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15665/24]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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This is a simple, straightforward question. Can the Minister of State give an update on when a consultation forum will be re-established for the development by the Land Development Agency, LDA, of Columb Barracks in Mullingar?

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.

As a key partner in the Government's delivery of affordable and social homes, the Land Development Agency is activating and securing the delivery of social and affordable homes in stalled planning consented developments, managing the State's own lands to develop new homes and partnering with local authorities to unlock delivery at scale on their lands. In the longer term, it will assemble strategic land banks from a mix of public and private lands, making these available for housing. Through Project Tosaigh, its market engagement initiative, the LDA has delivered more than 1,000 new homes of the targeted 8,000 to date. In total, more than 2,500 social, affordable purchase and cost-rental homes have either been delivered, contracted or are in the approved pipeline. This represents the commencement of a strong pipeline of delivery, which is ramping up significantly. The LDA is confident that it is on track to deliver 5,000 of these homes by 2026. The direct delivery pipeline on LDA land or in partnership with local authorities involves more than 10,000 homes with developments at various stages from design to nearing completion, with more being added as new lands become available or are acquired. Major progress has been made in bringing schemes through planning and approximately 6,000 of these homes now have planning permission.

The land at Columb Barracks in Mullingar is in the ownership of the Department of Defence, and it has the potential to deliver approximately 100 new homes. The Government agreed to transfer this site, together with 19 other sites, to the Land Development Agency under Housing for All. I understand that an advisory group was set up in 2021 to enable a better understanding of the complexities surrounding the site and its recent uses, as well as to provide an opportunity for key partners to collaborate and advise the LDA in developing a vision for the barracks site. A key part of the overall site is currently being used for temporary accommodation for Ukrainian temporary protection residents and other international protection applicants. I am informed that a meeting of key stakeholders, including Westmeath County Council and the Department of Defence, took place in early March to discuss the up-to-date position, the current potential for the site and the next steps. Following this, I expect the LDA to convene a meeting with the wider stakeholder advisory group shortly, with a focus on considering the range of uses for the site and a timeline for the transfer of the housing development on the site.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for the reply, but it is extremely disappointing, to be frank. The LDA was announced in 2018. As part of that announcement, Columb Barracks in Mullingar was on the initial list of sites to be developed. As the Minister of State has referenced himself, almost 100 houses could be provided there.

On Tuesday, 29 September 2020, I, along with the then Minister of State at the Department, Deputy Peter Burke, met with the LDA. It outlined a sequence for a timeline for the consultation to take place and when we could envisage a draft plan for development. In July 2021, there was a tour of the facility and the public consultation was extended to 30 July 2021. Thereafter, we expected a draft plan to be published for how this very historic site would be developed, how the historic buildings were going to be protected, how we would make it of use to community groups that are already there, as well as for other community groups, and how we were going make it available for housing development. Three years later-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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We are over time.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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-----we are no wiser about the development of this iconic site in Mullingar.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Deputy-----

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Frankly, we need something better and more concrete, so I can-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Deputy, we are way over time.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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-----go back to my constituents in relation to Columb Barracks in Mullingar.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Are you going to give up the second minute, which I hope to make up?

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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No.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Well, try to stick within the times.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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If other speakers stuck within their times, I would not be condensed.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Please, I am asking for your co-operation.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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You could get co-operation from others.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The Deputy will appreciate that there are several complexities around the site, particularly in relation to the protected structures that are located on the front of the Columb Barracks site, which may be suitable for cultural and heritage use. I know the Deputy had discussions about this already during the tour he had. It is hugely important for the town of Mullingar that the potential for education, culture and heritage is a key focus.

The site is also currently being used to accommodate Ukrainians under temporary protection and international protection applicants. There are approximately 60 families there, so the Deputy can appreciate that existing uses of the site are adding to the complexity of its long-term development. Progression is happening. We will engage with the Deputy and the LDA to try to progress this. I appreciate that this is a hugely strategically important site for the town of Mullingar.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Once upon a time, in its heyday, this site housed 330 men. I always said that when the temporary protection applicants moved in there, we should have done up the old buildings and housed them there. We should have utilised the buildings, rather than putting modular units in the square. That did not happen, unfortunately. It did not happen because we did not have a plan in place, and because we were reacting to the development of this site.

We need a concrete plan going forward so we can know exactly how this site will be developed and how it will be protected from historic and cultural perspectives. We have ideas for a museum for Mullingar. There are youth clubs working there. There are many community groups there. For example, the Order of Malta is working there, but it cannot even invest in its building because it does not know what the long-term plan is for this site.

If the Minister of State can take anything back from what I am saying today, I ask him to reconvene the public consultation forum and make sure we have a concrete plan in place in the not-too-distant future so we can ensure this vital site reaches its full potential.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Again, I appreciate the concerns that have been raised by the Deputy. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has given a commitment to meet with the LDA and interested parties to try to progress this. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not just a simple matter. These are heritage structures and require a conservation plan and a conservational approach to the restoration. It is not simply a matter of getting kitted or fitted out in some kind of temporary approach. It is important to take the right conservational approach to them. Second, the complexities I have outlined, namely, the families under temporary protection and applicants for international protection, are of huge importance. The Government is committed to working with the local authority to ensure this really important strategic site is developed for the benefit of the town of Mullingar and the wider community.