Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I raise an issue relating to the Land Development Agency.The Leader will recall that in 2018 the Government announced the establishment of the Land Development Agency. Its principal aim was to co-ordinate State lands, take them under its control and, ultimately, develop them to the maximum potential for housing and other infrastructural needs and employment opportunities. It is a wonderful organisation. In principle, I support it. However, we have yet to see the heads of a Bill for the Land Development Agency and this urgently needs to happen. We have a situation now where the Land Development Agency is effectively not a legal entity and, therefore, it cannot receive or transfer lands. I draw the attention of the House, particularly for those Senators who would know something of local government, to the so-called section 183 disposal notice which has to be applied for in the disposal of property assets belonging to a local authority. That is an important reserve function of the elected members. I believe that it is presenting some problems in the 31 local authorities and that is an issue we need to address. The Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum is a case in point. That is under OPW and it is somewhat different in terms of its transfer. Until such time as we have a legal entity, called the Land Development Agency, we cannot proceed. Given the importance of this issue and given the great excitement of the Government, and I welcomed the announcement of it, it is important that at least we should see the heads of Bill for the Land Development Agency. If the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, comes to the House before the summer recess - the Leader indicated last week he was due to come to the House in the next few weeks, and he might confirm that - could he address this particular issue?