Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 March 2021
75. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Land Development Agency has yet to acquire any sites on which it is currently working or if all the projects are currently partnerships between the Agency and the relevant landowner. [12322/21]
View answerThe Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of the Land Development Agency Bill.
On establishment, the LDA had access to an initial tranche of 8 sites that have near term delivery potential for approximately 3,400 new homes. As most sites are currently at the pre-planning stage, the exact delivery potential for each site will only be finalised as final plans are put in place and planning permission is sought. The sites concerned are as follows:
1. Central Mental Hospital Site, Dundrum
2. Hampton, Balbriggan
3. Hacketstown, Skerries
4. Devoy Barracks, Naas
5. Former Meath Hospital, Dublin City Centre
6. St. Kevin's Hospital, Cork
7. Columb Barracks, Mullingar
8. Dyke Road, Galway
Seven of these sites will be developed directly by the LDA while Dyke Road will be developed in partnership with the relevant authority. It is currently envisaged that ownership of these seven sites will not transfer to the LDA until the LDA Bill is enacted. The Bill was recently published and is currently going through Second Stage in Dáil Éireann.
The absence of the primary legislation is not preventing the LDA from progressing these sites. In addition, because the sites are public lands, rather than lands in private ownership, the issue of ownership and transfer is not an obstacle to early progress. The LDA has entered into pre-sale agreements with the land owners, as appropriate, to ensure that it has full access to the sites to carry out necessary pre-construction activities. Significant preparatory work is already underway in relation to the sites, with feasibility, planning and other preparatory works already initiated.
For example, the LDA has secured planning permission for 597 units at Shanganagh in conjunction with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and has submitted a Strategic Housing Development application for the St. Kevin’s Hospital site in Cork City in December 2020. The LDA intends to submit planning applications for other sites in 2021.
The LDA is also working in partnership with other local authorities around the country. It is running a design review of the Sandy Road Regeneration Project in Galway which has the potential for up to 1,000 homes, and it is also working with Limerick City and County Council on a site near Colbert Station, funding a masterplan of the site. A Cork Docklands Delivery Office was also established by Cork City Council in partnership with the LDA. The focus of this office is on supporting and catalysing the Cork Docklands area. In conjunction with Dublin City Council the LDA has recently opened an early stage consultation on a site at St. Teresa's Gardens with potential for 700 housing units. Further information on this is available at www.donoreproject.ie .
