Written answers

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Land Transfers

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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783. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of residential zoned land transferred from various local authorities under the land aggregation scheme, by local authority; the dates of completion of the transfers; the number of transfers awaiting completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6257/16]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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The Land Aggregation Scheme was introduced in 2010 as part of revised arrangements for the funding of land for social housing purposes. The primary purpose of the Scheme was to assist in the gradual unwinding of loans taken out by housing authorities to purchase land for the social and affordable housing investment programme.

Applications to the value of some €163 million in loans were accepted into the Land Aggregation Scheme. In respect of €111 million, the loans were fully redeemed by local authorities with funding recouped from my Department, under the original terms of the Scheme. The remaining €52 million is in the form of annuity loans, for which local authorities are making repayments to the Housing Finance Agency. Such annuity repayments are recoupable from my Department subject to the local authority complying with the terms of the Scheme.

In 2013, following a review of the Scheme carried out in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, it became evident that further expenditure on the Land Aggregation Scheme, in terms of accepting new applications, was no longer a sustainable option. The review concluded with the issuance of Circular 35/2013 on 11 December 2013, notifying Local Authorities of the discontinuance of the Scheme in respect of new applications.

The focus of the Scheme has now shifted to the management and future utilisation of the lands included in the Scheme. The Housing Agency is the primary body with responsibility for bringing forward recommendations for the optimum utilisation of LAGS lands in consultation with relevant local authorities and subject to Ministerial approval. Details of the sites accepted into the Land Aggregation Scheme are set out in the tables below.

The Housing Agency, in consultation with my Department and local authorities, is updating data and developing a detailed database and GIS map of local authority owned lands, as well as the Land Aggregation Scheme lands, showing their location, size, boundaries and other information.

The Housing Agency is also responsible for managing the transfer process including technical and legal aspects. Of the 73 sites accepted into the Scheme, 67 have now fully transferred to the ownership of the Agency. The remaining 6 sites are at an advanced stage in the transfer process.

It is a matter for the relevant local authority and the Housing Agency to resolve all outstanding matters affecting the transfer. In particular, each local authority must ensure that transfer conditions are met. The Housing Agency must satisfy itself that any required actions have been satisfactorily undertaken prior to any land transfer taking place.

My Department maintains regular contact with the Agency regarding progress made on land transfers and the potential development of such lands. I have asked the Agency to continue to prioritise the transfer of lands and to work with the local authorities concern ed in finalising outstanding transfers.

Table 1: Sites accepted under the first phase of the Scheme(Loan capital & interest fully redeemed).

No Previous Owner Location Value of Loan accepted into the scheme (Capital & Interest) Size of Site
[€] [ha]
1 Carlow County Council

Tinryland 499,835 1.9
2 Carlow County Council Slate Row, Hacketstown 611,677 3.2
3 Clare County Council Lisdoonvarna 2,189,982 4.4
4 Cork County Council Meelin 115,032 1.6
5 Cork County Council Oakwood, Macroom 1,126,472 2.3
6 Cork County Council Colleras, Goleen 348,337 0.5
7 Cork County Council Knocknagree 241,595 1.3
8 Cork County Council Lombardstown 152,184 1.3
9 Cork County Council The Slip, Bantry, #

2,788,750 13.5
10 Cork County Council Carrigtwohill 1,474,014 2
11 Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown County Council Enniskerry Road, Sandyford 10,257,875 2.8
12 Fingal County Council Hampton, Balbriggan 26,479,174 24.2
13 Galway City Council Ballymoneen Road, Ballyburke 7,006,412 2.5
14 Kildare County Council Kildare, Brallistown 1,929,294 4.0
15 Kildare County Council Nurney 829,896 4.2
16 Kildare County Council Clane 3,595,901 8.5
17 Kildare County Council Naas, Craddockstown 4,750,580 7.9
18 Laois County Council Castletown 111,392 1.5
19 Laois County Council Portlaoise Road, Mountrath 849,818 3.1
20 Laois County Council Golflinks Road Rathdowney 342,669 2
21 Laois County Council Adj. to Cemetery Ballinakill 178,188 1.3
22 Laois County Council Woodbrook, Mountrath 370,383 1.7
23 Limerick County Council Glin 124,123 0.5
24 Limerick County Council Ballyhahill 54,466 1.2
25 Limerick County Council Mountcollins 135,694 1.5
26 Limerick County Council Knocklong 434,019 3.5
27 Limerick County Council Bruff 229,899 2.1
28 Mallow Town Council St Joseph's Road, Mallow 3,877,077 5.3
29 Meath County Council Townparks Kells # 2,516,242 4.4
30 Naas Town Council Naas Devoy Barracks 11,522,100 5.6
31and 32 National Building Agency Cartontroy-Kilnafaddoge & Lissywollen, Athlone 4,167,544 5.5
33 National Building Agency Tullow Road, Carlow # 3,327,875 2
34 Offaly County Council Shinrone 371,847 2.9
35 Sligo County Council Ballintogher 274,344 1.3
36 Sligo County Council Tubbercurry 34,062 0.2
37 Sligo County Council Lisnalurg 4,828,276 11.8
38 Tralee Town Council Ballyard, Tralee 5,585,790 8.3
39 Waterford County Council Townpark East, Tallow 871,053 4.3
40 Waterford City Council Gibbet Hill 1,620,215 2.9
41 Wexford County Council Creagh B Demesne, Gorey 270,933 0.7
42 Wexford County Council Ballyowen, Ramsfort Park Gorey 701,448 1
43 Wexford County Council Hospital Hill, Bunclody 1,252,881 4.4
44 Wexford County Council Parish Field, Bunclody 283,233 0.7
45 Wexford County Council Taghmon, Wexford 829,214 3.4
46 Wexford County Council Carrick on Bannow 111,339 0.5
47 Wicklow Town Council Hillview, Ballynerrin, Wicklow Town 1,390,145 2.9
Total € 111,063,279 172.6 ha

Table 2: Sites accepted under the second phase of the Scheme (Annuity repayments recoupable from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government).

No Local Authority Location Value of Loan accepted into the scheme (Capital and Interest) Size of Site
[€] [ha]
48 Carlow County Council Royal Oak Road, Bagenalstown # 50,484* 0.11
49 Carlow County Council Paupish 960,510 2.2
50 Cork County Council Dripsey 708,517 1.295
51 Cork County Council Cloughmacsimon, Bandon 3,006,467 3.63
52 Cork County Council Duntahane Rd, Fermoy 3,535,156 3.98
53 Cork County Council The Miles. Clonakilty 1,066,686 2.464
54 Cork County Council Stag Park, Mitchelstown 3,781,435 8.59
55 Cork County Council Barrack Rd, Youghal # 1,136,077 1.16
56 Cork County Council Townsend St, Skibbereen 253,467 0.13
57 Cork County Council Union Hall # 622,233 1.403
58 Dundalk Town Council Mount Avenue 4,158,868 3.09
59 Fingal County Council Garristown 1,554,333 2.77
60 Fingal County Council Hackettstown 7,285,629 7.3
61 Laois County Council Abbeyleix Rd 1,383,355 1.491
62 Laois County Council Derry Rd Durrow 554,089 1.0281
63 Laois County Council Old Knockmay Rd Portlaoise 2,067,744 1.031
64 Laois County Council Bride St Ballinakill 340,360 0.92
65 Laois County Council Doonane 123,158 0.7405
66 Laois County Council Golflinks Rd (2) 1,243,534 2.132
67 Limerick County Council Cappamore 99,397 1.25
68 Offaly County Council Kilcormac 622,331 1.2165
69 Sligo Borough Council Ballindoe 8,830,267 15.1753
70 Tullamore Town Council Collins Lane 4,836,978 4.34
71 Wexford County Council Campile Ballykerogue 236,635 0.76
72 and 73 Wexford County Council Castlemoyle A&B & Hewittsland - New Ross 3,744,513 5.96

1.39
Total € 52,202,222 75.5564ha
*Royal Oak Road, Bagenalstown was accepted under the second phase of the scheme. However given the loan amount involved, €50,484, it was decided that it would be more efficient and effective to redeem the loan in full. Accordingly no interest payment arises in relation to that site.

#Indicates site in the process of being transferred.

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