John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

412. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount of funding drawn down to date under the local infrastructure housing activation fund; the further funds he expects to be drawn down under this fund by the end of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44734/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The total cost of the 34 projects approved under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund 2017-2019 is €226 million, of which 75% (€169.5 million) will be funded by my Department, with local authorities funding 25% (€56.5 million).

This funding is ring-fenced within the overall housing budget and will be available for local authorities to draw down over the lifetime of the projects.  The total allocation for 2017 is €50m but given that most projects are at design phase, there will be an underspend on LIHAF this year. However, any underspends in one year will be made good in future years and, through proactive management of the broader housing programme, any such underspends can be applied to other housing activities in the year in question, ensuring that the funding available in any given year is fully applied.

The first drawdown for LIHAF projects is likely to occur in late November and actual drawdown figures will be available by the end of the year.