Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 February 2019
35. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the fact that the Land Development Agency is not accessible under freedom of information; if information relating to the work of the agency to date on the number of staff employed, external advisers employed and fees associated with both staff and external advisors will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8470/19]
View answerThe Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on 13 September 2018 by way of Establishment Order under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971.
As set out in Section 6(12) of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, the LDA, being a public body as set out under Section 6(1) of the FOI Act, is not subject to FOI until a maximum of 6 months have passed since the date of establishment. As the LDA was established on 13 September 2018, it is not officially bound by FOI legislation until 13 March 2019.
There are currently 3 staff working in the LDA who are on secondment from the NTMA. Expenditure in relation to the LDA in 2018 was approximately €250,000. This related to professional services, including legal and financial services, relating to the establishment of the LDA, as well as services in relation to the initial work regarding the masterplans of the 8 initial sites to which the Agency has access, which have the potential to deliver 3,000 homes in the short term and a further 7,000 at later stages, 30% of which will be affordable housing.
In line with the Establishment Order, the LDA will be required to publish an annual report and audited financial statements for each financial year and the audited accounts will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The LDA has already appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government and will, of course, continue to be available for further engagement as its work programme advances.
