Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
1025. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding from the local infrastructure housing activation fund for the construction of pathways and a new school entrance for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9 will be allocated to facilitate the construction of 640 housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12114/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe process of allocating funding under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund began in August 2016 when Local Authorities were invited to submit proposals which were subsequently assessed and 34 of those proposals received preliminary approval in March 2017. The fund was fully allocated at that time. However, as part of Budget 2018, I announced an additional €50 million funding which will be available for a second LIHAF call and which will again be subject to matching funding of 25% by local authorities. This capital funding will facilitate the provision of additional public infrastructure to unlock further sites and activate more housing supply.
It is intended that a call for proposals under LIHAF 2 will issue to local authorities shortly. It will be open to all local authorities to submit new projects or resubmit previous unsuccessful projects for consideration at that time. In this context, it will be open to Dublin City Council to decide whether to submit the project referenced by the Deputy, following consideration of whether it meets the relevant criteria for the funding.
All proposals will be assessed in line with the criteria and aims of LIHAF and it is expected that approved projects will be announced in the latter half of 2018, with works expected to commence in 2019.
