Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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279. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of the €50 million of the €200 million local infrastructure housing activation fund that will be allocated to County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30957/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I recently announced the Government’s approval to the establishment of a Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund of €200 million to relieve critical infrastructural blockages to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites and to improve the economic viability of new housing projects in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand for housing. The Fund will be composed of an Exchequer allocation of €150 million, matched by a €50 million contribution from participating local authorities.  Funding is to be allocated to local authorities on the basis of a competitive bid process in relation to proposals with the capacity to secure the early delivery of additional housing at scale, including at affordable prices.

In line with the Government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland, I issued a call for proposals under the new Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund to local authorities on 26 August 2016, with a closing date for receipt of proposals of last Friday, 14 October.  

I received a proposal from Donegal County Council, together with proposals from other local authorities, which will now be evaluated and assessed by my Department, in line with the criteria set down in the Call for Proposals. I intend to announce successful bid proposals before the end of the year.