Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

627. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if changes are envisaged in respect of the allocation of local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, following the publication of the national planning framework, NPF; if so, the date and the way in which this will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10878/18]

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

As part of Budget 2018, I announced that an additional €50 million Exchequer funding will be available for a second LIHAF call. As was the case in the original LIHAF call, this will be subject to matching funding by local authorities, where my Department will provide 75% Exchequer funding, with the Local Authorities themselves providing 25% matching funding. This will bring overall LIHAF funding under both calls to €266 million.

My Department is currently finalising a call for proposals under phase 2 of LIHAF.  It is envisaged that the criteria for this round of funding will take account of the National Planning Framework priorities but the core objective of building key strategic infrastructure to release lands for housing development will remain the same.

It is expected that the call for proposals will issue to local authorities towards the end of March.  It will be open to all local authorities to submit new projects or resubmit previous projects for consideration at that time.  Following assessment and selection of successful projects, it is expected that these LIHAF 2 projects would commence towards the end of 2018.