Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting what I think is a really important Commencement matter, which relates to the Land Development Agency, LDA, its commitments, and the Government's commitments to it. I am conscious that city and county councillors were very concerned about the power to transfer land outside of the section 183 process. It is something I raised many times in this House. The issue surfaced again when discussing matters with members at the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, conference in Buncrana and that prompted me to raise this issue again.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. The issue relates to his Department. I know he personally has a significant commitment to developing housing, as has the Government, as I and others have. I do not really mind where housing comes from or who builds it. I have no ideological position on whether it is the private sector, the public sector or whoever else. I have a lot of time for synergies by the approved housing bodies, AHBs, and the local authorities. We have all put our shoulder to the wheel to deliver homes. This is about building homes for people that they can manage and which are reasonable in terms of rent, purchase or whatever else.

The issue I raise today is the commitment to the transfer of these lands that will see the Land Development Agency take ownership of significant pieces of land. We are talking about Inchicore in Dublin. These lands were formerly in the ownership of CIÉ, the ESB and the OPW. We are talking about substantial lands at the Cork docklands, formerly connected to the ESB and Bord na Móna, which owned or in some way had leverage on the site. We are also talking about Limerick's Colbert Station, where CIÉ again has a connection, as does the HSE on neighbouring lands. I would like to hear about progress on the sites and to acknowledge the excitement they potentially have in terms of realising new homes for us. It is important that we also understand the timelines for the transfer of these sites. I am familiar with Limerick and I went to see the site recently. I see great plans on the LDA website regarding a consultation on the housing there.

I understand what the LDA wants to do. It wants to improve the way the housing market functions. That is welcome and it is positive. I acknowledge that the LDA wants to work with State bodies and local authorities and their elected members to make more effective use of State lands and to provide a sustainable supply of new homes and new houses. What is most important is that the LDA now accepts that it wants to acquire and develop lands in a selective and targeted way that boosts housing supply. This is not to be in competition with anybody else.

One of the points that we discussed at the meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage with the approved housing bodies and the County and City Management Association, CCMA, was that we do not want State agencies, be it the Land Development Agency, the health authorities, other State agencies, harbour companies and transport agencies all competing for the same piece of land. The only people who will gain from that are the private property owners. We need a much more co-ordinated management structure for State lands. We must set out our target to get them and we must not compete with each other within the public sector and hike up the prices because ultimately that impacts on the property prices.

I acknowledge the amazing work of the LDA. I put my hand up and say I was somewhat sceptical about it, but what it has done with the State land bank database is phenomenal. At last, we are now seeing a database with a master mapping system of State lands, be it owned by An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, the HSE and transport and marine agencies. That is important in order that we will get good land use. I know the Minister of State is fiercely committed to that. It would be most helpful if he could share some details on those three promised land transfers and projects.