Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 April 2016
783. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of residential zoned land transferred from various local authorities under the land aggregation scheme, by local authority; the dates of completion of the transfers; the number of transfers awaiting completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6257/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Land Aggregation Scheme was introduced in 2010 as part of revised arrangements for the funding of land for social housing purposes. The primary purpose of the Scheme was to assist in the gradual unwinding of loans taken out by housing authorities to purchase land for the social and affordable housing investment programme.
Applications to the value of some €163 million in loans were accepted into the Land Aggregation Scheme. In respect of €111 million, the loans were fully redeemed by local authorities with funding recouped from my Department, under the original terms of the Scheme. The remaining €52 million is in the form of annuity loans, for which local authorities are making repayments to the Housing Finance Agency. Such annuity repayments are recoupable from my Department subject to the local authority complying with the terms of the Scheme.
In 2013, following a review of the Scheme carried out in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, it became evident that further expenditure on the Land Aggregation Scheme, in terms of accepting new applications, was no longer a sustainable option. The review concluded with the issuance of Circular 35/2013 on 11 December 2013, notifying Local Authorities of the discontinuance of the Scheme in respect of new applications.
The focus of the Scheme has now shifted to the management and future utilisation of the lands included in the Scheme. The Housing Agency is the primary body with responsibility for bringing forward recommendations for the optimum utilisation of LAGS lands in consultation with relevant local authorities and subject to Ministerial approval. Details of the sites accepted into the Land Aggregation Scheme are set out in the tables below.
The Housing Agency, in consultation with my Department and local authorities, is updating data and developing a detailed database and GIS map of local authority owned lands, as well as the Land Aggregation Scheme lands, showing their location, size, boundaries and other information.
The Housing Agency is also responsible for managing the transfer process including technical and legal aspects. Of the 73 sites accepted into the Scheme, 67 have now fully transferred to the ownership of the Agency. The remaining 6 sites are at an advanced stage in the transfer process.
It is a matter for the relevant local authority and the Housing Agency to resolve all outstanding matters affecting the transfer. In particular, each local authority must ensure that transfer conditions are met. The Housing Agency must satisfy itself that any required actions have been satisfactorily undertaken prior to any land transfer taking place.
My Department maintains regular contact with the Agency regarding progress made on land transfers and the potential development of such lands. I have asked the Agency to continue to prioritise the transfer of lands and to work with the local authorities concerned in finalising outstanding transfers.
Table 1: Sites accepted under the first phase of the Scheme (Loan capital & interest fully redeemed).
|
No |
Previous Owner |
Location |
Value of Loan accepted into the scheme (Capital & Interest) |
Size of Site |
|
|
[€] |
[ha] |
||
|
1 |
Carlow County Council
|
Tinryland |
499,835 |
1.9 |
|
2 |
Carlow County Council |
Slate Row, Hacketstown |
611,677 |
3.2 |
|
3 |
Clare County Council |
Lisdoonvarna |
2,189,982 |
4.4 |
|
4 |
Cork County Council |
Meelin |
115,032 |
1.6 |
|
5 |
Cork County Council |
Oakwood, Macroom |
1,126,472 |
2.3 |
|
6 |
Cork County Council |
Colleras, Goleen |
348,337 |
0.5 |
|
7 |
Cork County Council |
Knocknagree |
241,595 |
1.3 |
|
8 |
Cork County Council |
Lombardstown |
152,184 |
1.3 |
|
9 |
Cork County Council |
The Slip, Bantry, #
|
2,788,750 |
13.5 |
|
10 |
Cork County Council |
Carrigtwohill |
1,474,014 |
2 |
|
11 |
Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown County Council |
Enniskerry Road, Sandyford |
10,257,875 |
2.8 |
|
12 |
Fingal County Council |
Hampton, Balbriggan |
26,479,174 |
24.2 |
|
13 |
Galway City Council |
Ballymoneen Road, Ballyburke |
7,006,412 |
2.5 |
|
14 |
Kildare County Council |
Kildare, Brallistown |
1,929,294 |
4.0 |
|
15 |
Kildare County Council |
Nurney |
829,896 |
4.2 |
|
16 |
Kildare County Council |
Clane |
3,595,901 |
8.5 |
|
17 |
Kildare County Council |
Naas, Craddockstown |
4,750,580 |
7.9 |
|
18 |
Laois County Council |
Castletown |
111,392 |
1.5 |
|
19 |
Laois County Council |
Portlaoise Road, Mountrath |
849,818 |
3.1 |
|
20 |
Laois County Council |
Golflinks Road Rathdowney |
342,669 |
2 |
|
21 |
Laois County Council |
Adj. to Cemetery Ballinakill |
178,188 |
1.3 |
|
22 |
Laois County Council |
Woodbrook, Mountrath |
370,383 |
1.7 |
|
23 |
Limerick County Council |
Glin |
124,123 |
0.5 |
|
24 |
Limerick County Council |
Ballyhahill |
54,466 |
1.2 |
|
25 |
Limerick County Council |
Mountcollins |
135,694 |
1.5 |
|
26 |
Limerick County Council |
Knocklong |
434,019 |
3.5 |
|
27 |
Limerick County Council |
Bruff |
229,899 |
2.1 |
|
28 |
Mallow Town Council |
St Joseph's Road, Mallow |
3,877,077 |
5.3 |
|
29 |
Meath County Council |
Townparks Kells # |
2,516,242 |
4.4 |
|
30 |
Naas Town Council |
Naas Devoy Barracks |
11,522,100 |
5.6 |
|
31and 32 |
National Building Agency |
Cartontroy-Kilnafaddoge & Lissywollen, Athlone |
4,167,544 |
5.5 |
|
33 |
National Building Agency |
Tullow Road, Carlow # |
3,327,875 |
2 |
|
34 |
Offaly County Council |
Shinrone |
371,847 |
2.9 |
|
35 |
Sligo County Council |
Ballintogher |
274,344 |
1.3 |
|
36 |
Sligo County Council |
Tubbercurry |
34,062 |
0.2 |
|
37 |
Sligo County Council |
Lisnalurg |
4,828,276 |
11.8 |
|
38 |
Tralee Town Council |
Ballyard, Tralee |
5,585,790 |
8.3 |
|
39 |
Waterford County Council |
Townpark East, Tallow |
871,053 |
4.3 |
|
40 |
Waterford City Council |
Gibbet Hill |
1,620,215 |
2.9 |
|
41 |
Wexford County Council |
Creagh B Demesne, Gorey |
270,933 |
0.7 |
|
42 |
Wexford County Council |
Ballyowen, Ramsfort Park Gorey |
701,448 |
1 |
|
43 |
Wexford County Council |
Hospital Hill, Bunclody |
1,252,881 |
4.4 |
|
44 |
Wexford County Council |
Parish Field, Bunclody |
283,233 |
0.7 |
|
45 |
Wexford County Council |
Taghmon, Wexford |
829,214 |
3.4 |
|
46 |
Wexford County Council |
Carrick on Bannow |
111,339 |
0.5 |
|
47 |
Wicklow Town Council |
Hillview, Ballynerrin, Wicklow Town |
1,390,145 |
2.9 |
|
|
|
Total |
€ 111,063,279 |
172.6 ha |
Table 2: Sites accepted under the second phase of the Scheme (Annuity repayments recoupable from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government).
|
No |
Local Authority |
Location |
Value of Loan accepted into the scheme (Capital and Interest) |
Size of Site |
|
|
|
|
[€] |
[ha] |
|
48 |
Carlow County Council |
Royal Oak Road, Bagenalstown # |
50,484* |
0.11 |
|
49 |
Carlow County Council |
Paupish |
960,510 |
2.2 |
|
50 |
Cork County Council |
Dripsey |
708,517 |
1.295 |
|
51 |
Cork County Council |
Cloughmacsimon, Bandon |
3,006,467 |
3.63 |
|
52 |
Cork County Council |
Duntahane Rd, Fermoy |
3,535,156 |
3.98 |
|
53 |
Cork County Council |
The Miles. Clonakilty |
1,066,686 |
2.464 |
|
54 |
Cork County Council |
Stag Park, Mitchelstown |
3,781,435 |
8.59 |
|
55 |
Cork County Council |
Barrack Rd, Youghal # |
1,136,077 |
1.16 |
|
56 |
Cork County Council |
Townsend St, Skibbereen |
253,467 |
0.13 |
|
57 |
Cork County Council |
Union Hall # |
622,233 |
1.403 |
|
58 |
Dundalk Town Council |
Mount Avenue |
4,158,868 |
3.09 |
|
59 |
Fingal County Council |
Garristown |
1,554,333 |
2.77 |
|
60 |
Fingal County Council |
Hackettstown |
7,285,629 |
7.3 |
|
61 |
Laois County Council |
Abbeyleix Rd |
1,383,355 |
1.491 |
|
62 |
Laois County Council |
Derry Rd Durrow |
554,089 |
1.0281 |
|
63 |
Laois County Council |
Old Knockmay Rd Portlaoise |
2,067,744 |
1.031 |
|
64 |
Laois County Council |
Bride St Ballinakill |
340,360 |
0.92 |
|
65 |
Laois County Council |
Doonane |
123,158 |
0.7405 |
|
66 |
Laois County Council |
Golflinks Rd (2) |
1,243,534 |
2.132 |
|
67 |
Limerick County Council |
Cappamore |
99,397 |
1.25 |
|
68 |
Offaly County Council |
Kilcormac |
622,331 |
1.2165 |
|
69 |
Sligo Borough Council |
Ballindoe |
8,830,267 |
15.1753 |
|
70 |
Tullamore Town Council |
Collins Lane |
4,836,978 |
4.34 |
|
71 |
Wexford County Council |
Campile Ballykerogue |
236,635 |
0.76 |
|
72 and 73 |
Wexford County Council |
Castlemoyle A&B & Hewittsland - New Ross |
3,744,513 |
5.96 1.39 |
|
|
|
Total |
€ 52,202,222 |
75.5564ha |
*Royal Oak Road, Bagenalstown was accepted under the second phase of the scheme. However given the loan amount involved, €50,484, it was decided that it would be more efficient and effective to redeem the loan in full. Accordingly no interest payment arises in relation to that site.
#Indicates site in the process of being transferred.
