Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2021
249. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of public lands available throughout County Kildare for the provision of affordable or local authority housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34193/21]
View answerThe Land Development Agency (LDA) is currently developing a register of all relevant public lands, which is lands owned by public bodies in population areas greater than 10,000. An initial prototype mapping tool has already been completed and is available on the LDA website.
The Land Development Agency Bill 2021 will put the register on a statutory basis. When completed, it will contain information on all relevant public lands, including lands owned by local authorities in urban population areas greater than 10,000.
In relation to the Kildare area, the LDA have lodged a planning application for a development on the 10.08 acre site at Devoy Barracks in Naas. Subject to a successful grant of planning permission, it is estimated that this site has the potential to provide 221 units. Under the Serviced Sites Fund, the Ardclough Road project in Celbridge, Co. Kildare has received approval in principle and will assist in the delivery of 10 affordable homes.
In relation to local authority land, Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. As such, it is a matter for each local authority to control its own land assets.
In utilising their own lands for social housing purposes, my Department provides 100% funding to local authorities in this regard. The Housing Delivery Coordination Office works with all local authorities on accelerating their social housing construction programmes, including the activation of existing sites and the acquisition and development of new sites.
