Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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372. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of LIHAF applications received for Louth since its inception; the number that were approved and not approved, respectively; the status of all approved applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41538/24]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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373. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of LIHAF applications received for Meath since its inception; the number that were approved and not approved, respectively; the status of all approved applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41539/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 373 together.

The objective of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages. The types of infrastructure being provided include roads, bridges, diversion of power-lines, drainage works as well as public amenities (parks).

In July 2016, my Department invited relevant infrastructure project proposals from local authorities, and received over 70 applications.

A LIHAF Advisory Group was established to undertake an evaluation and assessment of LIHAF applications. This Advisory Group was drawn from a number of areas within the Department including planning, quantity surveying and housing delivery experts. A LIHAF Management Committee was established to make recommendations to the Minister, on projects that met the criteria for LIHAF funding and which could be given approval in principle, taking account of the detailed evaluation and assessments undertaken by the LIHAF Advisory Group.

All proposals were assessed in line the criteria set out in the Call for Proposals and ultimately 30 projects were approved for LIHAF grant funding in 2017.

Louth County Council submitted three applications for projects Newtown, Drogheda; Mount Avenue, Dundalk and Northern Environs, Drogheda. Two of these applications were successful. One of the approved projects at Newtown is no longer proceeding as the housing developers were unsuccessful in their Strategic Housing Development application. The other project at Mount Avenue has recently reached substantial completion of the LIHAF infrastructure works.

Meath County Council submitted six applications for projects located in Farganstown, Navan; Stamullen; Dunshaughlin; Ratoath; Kilcock and Nevinstown, Navan. Two of these applications were successful and the LIHAF infrastructure works are complete, these projects are at Farganstown, Navan and Ratoath.

It should be noted that the LIHAF scheme closed for new applications in 2017.