Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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284. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding which has been allocated or ring-fenced to support necessary infrastructure that is, roads, drainage, schools, healthcare, broadband in regard to recently approved major housing schemes in north Cork and Cork city suburbs; the timelines for availability of those supports; and the monitoring which exists to ensure developments do not proceed ahead of basic services being in place. [49507/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As part of their statutory obligations under the Planning and Development Act, planning authorities are required, in their city and county development plans, to include policies and objectives relating to the provision of infrastructure and facilities needed to support planned growth, including transport infrastructure, communication facilities, water and wastewater services and services for the community such as schools, educational and childcare facilities. The ‘Development Plans Guidelines’ issued by my Department in 2022 state that the adequacy of existing provision and the need for additional facilities must be taken into account in the preparation of development plans. In this regard, when making decisions in relation to the zoning of land for housing through the statutory development plan or local area plan, the capacity of infrastructure is considered. Where it is considered necessary, following consultation with relevant infrastructure providers, policies and objectives relating to the provision of new infrastructure are generally included in the development plan.

The Government agreed in April 2025, to establish a new Housing Activation Office in my Department, to address infrastructure barriers that are impacting housing development on zoned lands. The Office will have a strategic function, delivering actions to coordinate and accelerate delivery of necessary public infrastructure and an operational function seeking to unblock issues on the ground.

It will work with local authorities, including Cork City and Cork County Councils, and infrastructure agencies to develop a pipeline of housing enabling infrastructure projects aimed at addressing infrastructure blockages and accelerating housing delivery. The Office will also engage with Government Departments, involved in the provision of social and community infrastructure, such as educational and healthcare facilities to ensure a coordinated approach.

Aligned to this the Office will manage a Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund under the National Development Plan to support direct investment in infrastructure needed at a local level to unblock housing development, including transport, drainage and recreational amenities. This Fund will complement investment by agencies such as Uisce Éireann and ESBN, who have also received funding under the National Development Plan, to support housing development.

Cork City and County areas have already benefitted from substantial investment in housing related infrastructure in recent years through schemes managed by my Department.

Under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund Cork City and Cork County Councils have been approved €59.1m in grant funding, of which my Department is providing €45.7m, across five infrastructure projects. The projects include a new spine road, junction upgrade and storm water sewer at Water-Rock, Midleton and the re-routing of power lines and road and drainage improvements at Old Whitechurch Road in Cork City. A further project at Glanmire is also being progressed.

Cork has also received substantial support under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. Cork Docklands is the single largest URDF-supported project in the country, with €353.4m allocated under Call 2 and an additional €4.15m approved in 2024. This project will unlock the Docklands’ potential as a vibrant new neighbourhood. Further URDF support has been provided under Call 3, with allocations of €6m for Cork City and €8m for Cork County to address vacancy and dereliction.

Taken together, these measures ensure that housing delivery in Cork and nationally will have the infrastructure and facilities needed to support development.