Written answers

Tuesday, 4 July 2017

Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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643. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the infrastructure projects that have received a contribution from the local infrastructure housing activation fund. [30996/17]

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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675. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if grant agreements in respect of the 34 approved applications under the LIHAF have been concluded; if so, the projected number of units on each site; the projected number of affordable units on each site; the projected number of social housing units on each site, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31339/17]

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 643 and 675 together.

The aim of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to relieve critical infrastructural blockages in order to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in urban areas with high demand for housing. 

On 28 March 2017, funding was announced for 34 projects under LIHAF. Funding will be provided to Local Authorities to build public infrastructure such as roads, bridges and public amenities through a public procurement process and these projects will be key to the delivery of 23,000 housing units over the next four years, with a longer term projection of up to 70,000 units as the associated sites are fully built out. 

The full list of approved projects, with the projected housing yield for each site, is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/local-infrastructure-housing-activation-fund-approved-projects.  Under Part V provisions, some 10% of the housing to be delivered will be for social housing purposes.  Where sites are in public ownership, up to 30% may be for either social housing or potentially housing for the elderly or those with special needs, according to the particular needs of that Local Authority.

The affordability dividend in relation to associated private housing is in the form of a cost reduction proportionate to the LIHAF contribution. The developer may provide a percentage of the houses at a higher cost reduction or spread it out over all of the associated housing to be provided by 2021.  

Following approval in principle, the relevant Local Authorities are engaging in negotiations with developers to obtain agreements in relation to land transfer, housing delivery timelines and cost reductions.  It is expected that the Local Authorities will conclude agreements with developers this month.  Drawdown of funding cannot occur until the grant agreements are in place.

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