Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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52. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the way in which the role of the Land Development Agency is being expanded under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65632/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the LDA’s role is being expanded to include delivery across a wider geographical area, working in partnership with housing developers of all sizes to deliver more homes across all tenure types, including social and private. This will involve the LDA acquiring more private and state land, investing in infrastructure delivery to unlock additional homes, and supporting planning and delivery of new communities. The LDA will also be playing a fundamental role in the Starter Homes Programme.

My Department is currently drafting a General Scheme which will amend the Land Development Agency Act 2021 to give effect to this expanded remit. The LDA Business Plan for 2026-2030 will reflect this expanded remit and the LDA's planned actions under Delivering Homes, Building Communities.

The Government is committed to providing additional equity funding of €2.5 billion to the LDA, giving it a total of €8.75 billion capital agreed. The LDA will extend the impact of this funding by sourcing external finance to support its objectives. The LDA has developed specialist expertise in the lifecycle of home delivery, from land activation to master planning to apartment design and delivery. This operational capability has taken some years to develop, and it is the first time in many decades that the State has had direct housing construction capability at any scale. Looking to the future, the flexibility inherent in the LDA platform will provide the Government with considerable capability as they seek to deliver on increased housing delivery.