Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Senators for their contributions. At the heart of the role of the LDA is ensuring that we make a step change in how we manage State lands and take a long term strategic land management approach to provide a more sustainable approach to housing delivery at affordable levels. This is part of a wider suite of measures the Government is implementing as part of its housing for all mission to improve overall supply and bring forward new initiatives on affordable housing.

From listening to the debate, it is apparent that there is major consensus across all sides of the House that we should ensure public lands not required for other purposes should be used for housing. I want to be clear that the decisions the Government will make on transferring public lands to the LDA will apply to those lands already in the ownership of the State. This is clearly what is set out in Part 7.This will be a very transparent process as details of public lands will be available on the register on the LDA website and the reports to Government by the LDA will also be published.

In the case of local authority lands,it remains the position that it is up to local authorities to determine how best to deliver housing on their lands.Under section 15 of the LDA Bill, local authorities can request the assistance of the Land Development Agency to manage the development of large-scale complex sites and the LDA will generally be required, by statute, to give assistance in this regard. A number of people have raised concerns about section 183 in that process and I hear them fully. I am firmly of the belief that local authority members should have maximum power. In my role as Minister of State with responsibility for local government, every day I try to give local authority members more power. It is interesting to note that was not the case in the original Bill, so this is a change that has been made. I will bring Senators' views back to the Minister in connection with that issue. On the residential aspect, the Minister has conceded that land zoned as residential is the only aspect where section 183 can be changed. I will absolutely raise all concerns regarding that with the Minister.

Separately, where local authorities no longer require land for their own purposes, as I mentioned, similar to other public bodies, including commercial bodies, they must give first refusal to the LDA before selling to the market. It is only in circumstances where land is already zoned for housing that section 183 of the Local Government Act would not apply, as it is moving land from one public body to another to deliver housing. These provisions support the role of local authority members, allowing them to work in partnership with the LDA to deliver on complex sites. They will need to be able to avail of a centre of excellence, which will also be developed through the LDA in delivering housing in key urban areas.

The LDA will be a powerful land management agency. While its immediate focus will be on developing housing on public lands, in the longer term it will assemble strategic land banks from a mix of public and private lands, making these available for housing and bringing essential long-term stability to the Irish housing market. I also welcome the positive commitments and comments today on the prototype that the LDA's land register already has available on its website.

I will follow up on a few other specific issues. On the land valuation for public land being sold to the LDA, I want to reiterate that while the LDA will pay for such land, and the price will take into account the proposed use of the land, it will also deliver significant levels of affordable housing in addition to Part V housing.

Many Senators referenced the affordability requirement in the Bill. As I said in my opening comments, the Part 9 provision has been amended to ensure that there is 80% affordability on relevant public lands in Cork and Dublin cities. This, when taken together with Part V housing, will ensure that there will be 100% social and affordable housing on these sites. The affordability requirement will be set at a minimum of 50% in all other areas, which will be effectively 70%, including Part V. This housing will not be linked to market rents or market prices, as was referenced by some during the debate, but will be delivered in accordance with the Affordable Housing Bill in relation to the cost rental and affordable housing purchase schemes.

Quite the opposite of the LDA being a vehicle for divestment of public lands to the private sector, the LDA, as a fully State-owned agency, represents a far more active and impactful role for the State in the land development market, including utilising public lands more efficiently. The LDA is mandated to replenish and assemble land banks, including by way of acquisition from the open market, which means that certain privately held lands may become publicly owned in the future. It is also important to note that ministerial approval is required under section 57 of the Bill for the LDA and its subsidiaries to sell land. There is no question of any mass sell-off of public land or housing to be developed on those lands.

The LDA marks an important step for the State in actively managing its own land for the common good. As has been referenced, we are all about trying to ensure as much public housing on public land, and affordable housing for all our citizens, as possible. On finances, as has been pointed out, the LDA will receive a cash injection of €1.25 billion and can borrow up to €1.25 billion. The point about the LDA budget has been well made by some Senators, including Senator Cummins. We need to be serious about this and put the maximum possible amount the State can afford into the Land Development Agency because it will be a key driver of social and affordable housing in our State. We need to give it maximum support so it can carry out all its activities in the best interests of all our citizens.

I acknowledge a long-standing Member of the House, Senator Ivana Bacik. It looks like she will have a major result today. She has made a huge contribution to this House and it is not before time that she has been elected to the Thirty-third Dáil.I wish her the best.