Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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640. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the Land Development Agency has considered introducing co-living accommodation into any of its proposed developments; and if this consideration has been abandoned in view of the partial ban on co-living introduced in December 2020. [14355/21]

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 (S.I. 352 of 2018, as amended by S.I. 603 of 2018) 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.  

Based on information provided by the LDA, consideration was given at an early stage to developing co-living accommodation at the proposed LDA development at the Meath hospital site.  However this was not progressed and alternative arrangements are now being considered by the LDA.  Co-living accommodation has not been considered on any other LDA proposed developments.

As with all State bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, arrangements have been put in place by the LDA through which Oireachtas members can request information directly from the Agency in relation to operational matters - in this regard, the LDA may be contacted directly at oireachtas@lda.ie.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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641. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the Land Development Agency development on the Meath Hospital site, Dublin 8; the number of units proposed; the tenure mix; the development partners; and the timeline for planning, commencement and completion. [14356/21]

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.

The LDA have advised my Department that the 0.75 acre Meath Hospital site is currently being examined and the potential of this site, previously reported as an estimated 100 units, is currently under review. As this site is currently at the pre-development stage, the exact delivery potential will only be finalised as final plans are put in place and planning permission is sought. The LDA will have regard to Government policy, and all appropriate legislation, on the appropriate tenure mix for developments on public land as well as the criteria for the operation of cost rental and affordable housing schemes.

As with all State bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, arrangements have been put in place by the LDA through which Oireachtas members can request information directly from the Agency in relation to operational matters - in this regard, the LDA may be contacted directly at oireachtas@lda.ie.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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642. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the Land Development Agency discussed the establishment of a high level structure bringing together land owners engaging with the Agency such as the HSE and councils to address delays in advancing residential development on specified sites; and if discussion in June 2019 by the board of the Agency in relation to establishing such a structure to be chaired by the Taoiseach, was advanced and proposed to the Department of the Taoiseach. [14357/21]

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 the Land Development Agency Bill. 

As with all State bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, arrangements have been put in place by the LDA through which Oireachtas members can request information directly from the Agency in relation to operational matters. In this regard, the LDA may be contacted directly at oireachtas@lda.ie. Queries in relation to the LDA Board can be raised directly with the LDA using this mechanism.

To assist the Deputy, my Department has made enquiries with the LDA; who have confirmed that they did not make any proposals in relation to the establishment of a high level structure  to the Department of the Taoiseach following the June 2019 meeting of the Interim LDA Board, as suggested by the Deputy.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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643. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the discussions taking place between his Department and the Land Development Agency on the delivery of affordable purchase homes on non-local authority sites; if the serviced sites fund will be extended to non-local Government sites; and if another form of equity stake including a Land Development Agency equity stake is being considered in order to provide homes at a discount of full development costs. [14358/21]

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 the Land Development Agency Bill 2021. 

My Department regularly engages with the LDA to discuss its work programme, including the delivery of affordable housing.  The LDA will deliver affordable housing units, including affordable purchase, on its initial portfolio of public lands but the exact housing mix will not be finalised until planning permission is granted for each site.  The General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill was published in January and provides the mechanism for the LDA to make affordable purchase homes available.  This will take account of the provisions in relation to affordable housing set out in Part 9 of the Land Development Agency Bill 2021.

The Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), in its current form, assists in the delivery of affordable homes on local authority land. Local authorities can work on SSF projects in conjunction with the LDA regarding affordable housing, such as is currently happening on the project in Shanganagh.  Section 14 of the LDA Bill provides that local authorities may request the LDA to provide services to it in relation to the development of sites for housing and urban development. This type of arrangement sees the local authority authorising the LDA to develop affordable housing on a parcel of its land. The project is planned and managed by the LDA, who in turn contracts a developer to build the new homes on the local authority's behalf.

SSF funding can be applied for and utilised for such developments for enabling public infrastructure by the relevant local authority to my Department.   It is not currently provided that SSF funding can be provided for lands other than local authority lands.   In accordance with the Programme for Government commitment to extend the SSF, a review of the SSF is currently ongoing.