Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 406: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will guarantee that local authorities will have first option on lands that they surrender to the agency under the proposed land aggregation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26549/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the land aggregation scheme, local authorities have been given the option to apply to my Department to recoup the cost of outstanding loans that are due to mature before the end of 2010 and where it is considered that the land involved is unlikely to be developed in the short to medium term. Lands that are to be transferred to the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency Ltd. may continue to be available for social housing if housing projects are advanced by authorities under the Social Housing Investment Programme. It is intended to put in place, in consultation with relevant bodies, operational plans to ensure the best use of land from a planning and value for money perspective.