Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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584. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a legal query from a local authority (details supplied) leading to a delay in the operation of an affordable housing scheme in a town in conjunction with the LIHAF scheme; and the status of same. [53977/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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My Department established the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) to relieve critical infrastructural blockages to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in Dublin and in other urban areas with high demand for housing. The type of infrastructure investment includes roads, bridges, diversion of powerlines, drainage works as well as public amenities (e.g. parks).

The 30 infrastructure projects receiving funding will stimulate development of approximately 20,000 homes across the 14 local authorities in areas of high housing need by 2021. Details of the projects funded are available on the Rebuilding Ireland website and can be accessed at the following link:

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I can confirm that a query was received from the local authority mentioned in relation to the allocation of housing on a LIHAF associated site. To clarify, my Department does not provide legal advice to local authorities in respect of their legal obligations, this is a matter for the Council's own law agents.

However, the Department does intend to issue guidance to local authorities in relation to the delivery of affordable housing under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. Part 5 of that Act contains significant detail on the procedures and operation of the new Affordable Purchase Scheme. The primary legislation will be supported by associated regulations, which are currently being finalised, following extensive consultation between my Department, the Housing Agency and local authorities. The regulations, once finalised, together with relevant guidance, will be issued to all local authorities.