Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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266. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the €25 million allocated to the local infrastructure housing activation fund as outlined in budget 2018; the amount has been spent; the way in which the money has been spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27244/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Additional funding of €50 million over the period to 2020 was announced in Budget 2018 for a second call for proposals under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund.  The aim of LIHAF is to increase housing supply through enabling infrastructure such as roads, bridges and parks.

However, it is now the case that significantly increased funding will be available for enabling infrastructure projects through the new €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund and the €1 billlion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, announced under Project Ireland 2040. Local authorities will also be able to apply to the new Serviced Sites Fund which will support delivery of both off- and on-site infrastructure which can unlock local authority-owned lands in order to deliver affordable homes.

Given the cross-over between these funds, I have reviewed whether it is necessary to have a further call specifically under LIHAF, and I have concluded, in consultation with the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, that the funds that had been allocated for the second call under LIHAF should be transferred to the new Serviced Sites Fund to increase the Exchequer funding available under the Fund from €25 million to €75 million over the period 2018 to 2021. This funding will help to speed up the development of affordable housing from publicly-owned sites and I will be issuing a call for proposals under that Fund next week.