Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2019
641. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the next round of the local infrastructure housing activation fund will open for applications; and the dedicated budget for this round. [42125/19]
View answerThe Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) was designed to activate housing supply by putting in place the enabling public infrastructure necessary to ensure that large scale development could take place on key sites in urban areas of high housing demand. Approval was given for 30 projects under LIHAF in 2017 and these projects will stimulate development of approximately 20,000 housing units across 14 local authorities.
Details of the 30 LIHAF projects can be found at https://rebuildingireland.ie/lihaf/
Whilst a further round of projects under the LIHAF administrative structure was originally envisaged, funding is now instead being made available through the Serviced Site Fund (SSF). Under the SSF a budget of €310m has been made available to Local Authorities who can apply for funding for key facilitating infrastructure on public lands, to support delivery of more affordable homes. Over the period 2019-2021, the fund will deliver infrastructure works to support the delivery of approximately 6,200 homes to purchase or rent at rates which are discounted on market prices.
To date, SSF funding of €127 million in support of 35 projects in 14 local authority areas, has been allocated for infrastructure works on sites that will support the delivery of almost 3,200 homes. A further call for proposals will issue next year. Details of all SSF projects approved to date are available at the following links:
SSF Call 1 https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-10-local-authority-sites-affordable-housing-serviced-sites-fund/
SSF Call 2 https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-funding-of-e84m-to-support-delivery-of-1770-affordable-homes-under-the-ssf/
Significantly increased funding has also been made available for enabling infrastructure through the €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) which is administered by my Department and the €1 billion Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF) operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
