Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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80. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the improvements he has identified in the manner in which the Land Development Agency will operate in order to reduce the time and cost involved in site assembly and acquisition, in design, master planning, cost appraisal, establishment of funding lines, planning approval, tendering and construction; and if he is satisfied that the draft legislation provides the necessary legislative powers to allow this State developer fulfil its game-changing potential identified in the recent NESC report. [39143/20]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency.

A revised General Scheme for the LDA Bill was approved by Government in October for priority drafting and it is intended that the legislation will be enacted in the coming months. The LDA Bill will focus on the establishment of the corporate form and financial structure of the Agency. Once the primary legislation is in place, arrangements will be finalised in relation to the capitalisation of the LDA with funding of up to €1.25 billion being provided from ISIF. My Department is currently working closely with the Office of the Attorney General on the draft legislation to ensure the LDA are given all necessary powers to carry out its functions.

The LDA has an immediate focus on managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites. In the longer-term, it will assemble strategic land-banks from a mix of public and private lands, making these available for housing in a controlled manner, which brings essential long-term stability to the Irish housing market.

Along with its initial 8 sites, the LDA is working in partnership with local authorities to develop and master plan a range of strategic sites. One example is the Shanganagh Castle site. The LDA, in partnership with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, have been granted planning permission for the development of 597 homes on this site. It is intended that approximately 34% of the units in this development will be for social housing, 51% will be cost rental and 15% will be for affordable purchase.

As part of its remit, the LDA is also working to develop an inventory of all relevant public lands to allow for better management of these land assets, including their strategic planning and urban regeneration potential. This database will contain information on all relevant public lands including location, mapping and title. It is intended that the forthcoming LDA Bill will provide that all state bodies will be obliged to assist the LDA in the compilation of the database, where appropriate. It also provides that the LDA will report to the Minister periodically on the optimal use of public lands. In accordance with the Programme for Government, the LDA Bill will require all public bodies disposing of lands to first offer them for sale to the LDA.

In line with its mandate, the LDA will retain experienced staff with extensive skills and experience in project management, finance, planning, development, law and procurement and will provide professional services to master-plan key sites/areas for development in key urban areas, in partnership with local authorities and other state bodies. For example, the LDA is currently working with Limerick City and County Council on a site near Colbert Station, funding a master plan of the site which consists of lands owned by the Council, CIE, the Department of Education and the HSE. It is also working closely with Cork City Council in relation to the development of Cork Docklands. The LDA currently has 41 staff members and it is actively recruiting further staff with the required skill sets and expects to have 80 employees by the end of 2021.