Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021
332. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount in acres of publicly owned development land, including land owned by State agencies and bodies, that has been sold to private developers since the LDA was setup in 2018, by public body, county and year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43873/21]
View answerMy Department has no statutory function to compile such data in relation to land disposals by other State bodies so therefore does not possess this information.
Under Section 9 of the State Property Act, State authorities must seek the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to dispose of state property. The policy on the disposal of state lands is set out in Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 17/2016: Policy for Property Acquisition and for Disposal of Surplus Property.
Additionally, under the Public Spending Code: A Guide to Evaluating, Planning and Managing Public Investment (December 2019), prior to seeking Ministerial approval to dispose of lands and buildings on the open market, all non-commercial State bodies must first consult with the Land Development Agency in relation to the appropriate disposal of those lands having regard to the policy agreed by Government in September 2018. Departments/ Agencies must confirm with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform vote sections that they have consulted with the LDA in the event of requests for Ministerial consent to land disposal (whether under State Property Act, other legislation or the Code of Practice).
Under Section 53 of the LDA Act 2021, a relevant public body shall not dispose of relevant public land without first offering the land for sale to the LDA.
