Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 May 2023
131. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes that have been delivered under LIHAF funding; the number of these that are cost-rental and affordable purchase respectively; and the number to be delivered in each of the years 2022-2028 respectively, in tabular form. [23500/23]
View answerThe objective of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages. This will enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand. LIHAF is designed to specifically address the issue of housing supply, a crucial factor in terms of moderating house prices.
The types of infrastructure being provided include roads, bridges, diversion of power-lines, drainage works as well as public amenities (parks). Infrastructure being funded under LIHAF includes access roads, distributor roads, link roads, road improvements, roundabouts, bridges and parks.
It’s important to note that LIHAF projects involve complex, large scale public infrastructure developments which pave the way for associated housing development. This requires extensive design, planning, public consultation and procurement processes in advance of the projects moving to construction.
LIHAF is not primarily intended as an affordable housing scheme, although it will enable the development of more affordable housing on sites. It is a scheme primarily designed to fund the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. This infrastructure in turn unlocks associated sites for housing development quicker than would otherwise have occurred.
Of the initial 30 approved projects, Local Authorities have confirmed that 6 will not now proceed. Projected housing delivery associated with the remaining 24 infrastructure projects anticipates the development thereafter of over 16,000 homes. Of these, it is projected that
• c. 30% would be social or affordable housing (2,595 social and 1,710 affordable);
• c. 30% would have a LIHAF-related cost reduction (more modest than compared to affordable housing referred to above); and
• 40% will be sold at normal market rates.
Construction of housing has started on foot of a number of LIHAF projects and Local Authorities have advised that 5,386 units were completed up to the end of 2022 of which 1,731 are cost reduced. Local Authorities project completion of a further 5,509 units up to end 2026 and 790 in the period beyond 2026.
Furthermore, there are an additional 5,500 homes to be delivered which are at varying stages of the design and planning process.
|
Units delivered |
Social/Part V |
Affordable |
Cost Reduced |
|
|
To end 2022 |
5386 |
625 |
16 |
1731 |
|
Projected Delivery |
Social/Part V |
Affordable |
Cost Reduced |
|
|
2023 |
1659 |
404 |
36 |
298 |
|
2024 |
1962 |
530 |
167 |
316 |
|
2025 |
1120 |
163 |
281 |
360 |
|
2026 |
768 |
122 |
295 |
295 |
|
5509 |
1219 |
779 |
1269 |
|
|
Post 2026 |
790 |
