Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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459. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the role of the Land Development Agency in relation to the purchasing of vacant sites and units that have the potential for significant residential development; the arrangements that exist for the purchase of such sites prior to them being placed on the open market in circumstances in which the ownership is under the control of the State or a State agency or in cases in which the State has a long standing relationship with the owner; and the plans of the Land Development Agency in relation a site (details supplied). [35473/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established under the Land Development Agency Act 2021 with the immediate focus of managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites. The Agency is also tasked with unlocking stalled private planning-consented developments via its market engagement and partnership initiative, Project Tosaigh.

Government maintains a strong focus on the use of vacant and under-utilised public land for housing having agreed to transfer 37 state owned sites to the Land Development Agency (LDA) for the development of affordable and social housing.

In this regard, the Act requires the LDA to establish and maintain a Register of Relevant Lands, and as required by Section 52 of the Act, furnish to Government at two yearly intervals its Report on Relevant Public Land, with the 2nd Report published earlier this year. The Register and Report facilitate and support the identification and assessment of the potential of relevant public land for the provision of affordable and social housing both now, and in the future. Section 6.6 of the 2nd Report sets out the lands that were offered to the LDA, including information on the owner of the land, and its location.

Furthermore, in accordance with Section 53 of the Act, a relevant public body is not permitted to dispose of relevant public land unless the body has given prior notice, and offered the land for sale to the LDA. This requirement ensures that any relevant public land being disposed of is assessed to determine whether it is suitable for the purposes of the Act, primarily the provision of affordable and social housing.

The Department and the LDA have regular and ongoing engagement with relevant public bodies in respect of relevant public lands. Beyond this, any further engagements by the LDA in relation to the potential acquisition of sites is a matter for the agency itself, which, in line with Section 12(4) of the Act, is independent in the performance of its functions.

Arrangements have been put in place by each State body to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. For further information in relation to its site acquisition programme the Land Development Agency may be contacted by email at oireactas@lda.ie.