Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 May 2018
79. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if projects which were part of local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, 1 but which have not progressed will have to compete with other projects for funding as part of LIHAF 2; if they will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19846/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department issued the first call for proposals under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) to all local authorities in August 2016 and I have fully approved funding for 30 infrastructure projects at a cost of approximately €195 million.
As part of Budget 2018, I announced that an additional €50 million Exchequer funding will be available for a second LIHAF call. As was the case in the original LIHAF call, this will be subject to matching funding by local authorities. My Department will provide 75% Exchequer funding, with the Local Authorities themselves providing 25% matching funding. This will bring overall LIHAF funding under both calls to over €260 million.
My Department will shortly issue a call for proposals for the second round of funding under LIHAF. It will be open to all local authorities to submit new projects or resubmit previous projects that did not receive funding under LIHAF1 for consideration.
Projects will be evaluated on criteria, based on clear policy objectives as set out in the LIHAF2 call for proposals, and no particular priority will be given to previously submitted projects that did not receive funding under the first call. If such previously submitted projects have made progress in the interim, local authorities can highlight this within their updated proposal and it may factor into the assessment process in terms of project readiness.
