Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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527. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason most of the projects approved under the local infrastructure housing activation fund have not been delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7650/25]

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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528. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason for the delay in the completion of projects under the local authority mortgages and that local infrastructure housing activation fund as evidenced by only 15 of 24 projects being completed since 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7651/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 527 and 528 together.

The objective of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages. The scheme opened for applications in 2016 and 30 projects received final approval in late 2017 and early 2018. It is important to note the LIHAF scheme closed to new applications since then.

Of the original 30 approved projects, six projects did not proceed under LIHAF. Of the remaining 24 projects, 15 have now been completed and the majority of the remaining projects are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

It’s important to note that LIHAF projects involve complex, large scale public infrastructure developments which pave the way for associated housing development. This requires extensive design, planning, public consultation and procurement processes in advance of the projects moving to construction.

There are several reasons why projects have taken a significant time to progress such as delays in securing agreement with land owners and/or land transfers, the necessity for Compulsory Purchase Orders, Judicial Reviews, planning and archaeological issues.

However, the successful completion of 15 projects and the delivery of over 7,000 new homes to date demonstrates the scheme’s contribution to unlocking housing supply, with further housing delivery projected over the coming years.