Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
1077. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of plans for the development of the Central Mental Hospital; the involvement of the Land Development Agency in this development; the stage the development is at; the breakdown for social and affordable housing planned for the land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8270/20]
View answerOn establishment of the Land Development Agency (LDA), the Agency was tasked with the development of an initial tranche of 8 sites, including the Central Mental Hospital site in Dundrum.
On the basis of information provided by the LDA to my Department, the development at the Dundrum site is currently in pre-planning stage. Following the relocation of the Central Mental Hospital, the Dundrum site will become available to the LDA to further progress development.
The LDA has recently appointed a design team to progress the designs and expects to lodge a planning application in mid-2021 and, subject to An Bord Pleanála approval, to begin construction in early 2022.
In September 2018, the Government approved a new public land affordability requirement. Under this requirement, a minimum of 30% of any housing developed on State lands must be reserved for affordable purposes in addition to the 10% statutory social housing requirement under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The site at Dundrum will be developed in line with this requirement.
As with all State bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, arrangements have been put in place by the LDA through which Oireachtas members can request information directly from the Agency in relation to operational matters - in this regard, the LDA may be contacted directly at oireachtas@lda.ie.
