Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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147. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he intends to introduce an additional Project Tosaigh, with provision for small developers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36588/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established with a focus on managing the State’s lands to develop new homes and regenerate underutilised sites. The Agency has also been tasked with unlocking stalled, private, planning-consented developments in the shorter-term through Project Tosaigh, its market engagement initiative.

The LDA is targeting 8,000 new homes over the course of the Project Tosaigh initiative. They are currently on track to deliver 5,000 new homes for Cost Rental, Affordable Purchase and Social Housing to eligible households by the end of 2026.

In an evolution of the original Project Tosaigh approach whereby the LDA entered into advance purchase arrangements for uncommenced, planning consented private developments, a framework panel consisting of 15 of Ireland’s largest and most experienced home-builders was established in 2024 to accelerate the delivery of homes. This framework provides a range of delivery partnership options, including construction milestone payment mechanisms. The LDA has entered into three contracts to deliver over 1,100 further homes under this procurement framework and four further contracts to deliver over 2,000 homes are in legal drafting.

The LDA is currently operating an expression of interest window for developers to submit projects for forward purchase. This window is open to all developers and will focus on higher density developments in the key city areas (Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Galway and Limerick) where there is significant demand for high density housing. The LDA is seeking projects which are planning approved with potential for over 100 units. Decisions on which projects to purchase will be made by the LDA based on their evaluation criteria.

The operation of Project Tosaigh remains under constant review and responsive to housing policy decisions and market conditions.