Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2637. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of allocations under the local infrastructure housing activation fund in 2018; if such allocations come under the capital expenditure heading of departmental expenditure under Vote 34; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33109/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2638. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 945 of 10 July 2018, the status of the anticipated allocation amount under the local infrastructure housing activation fund in 2019, 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33110/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2637 and 2638 together.
30 projects received final approval for funding under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund at a cost of approximately €195 million, of which 75% will be provided by my Department. Further details of these 30 projects, including the amount of approved funding, are available at http://rebuildingireland.ie/lihaf/.
This funding is provided to local authorities through subhead A.9.1 under Vote 34. Local authorities can draw down the funding allocated to their projects at any stage, once the cost has been incurred. The allocation for 2018 is €60 million. To date, local authorities have drawn-down almost €2.2 million in funding through LIHAF and my Department is currently processing claims for expenditure from local authorities for second quarter 2018.
The low level of draw-down by local authorities reflects the stages which the infrastructure projects are at currently. The expenditure incurred during the design, planning, and tendering stages is significantly lower than that at the construction stage so a major increase in draw-down is expected as projects progress through to construction.
The balance of remaining expenditure on the 30 projects will be allocated to this subhead over the coming years 2019-2021 as the infrastructure is built and as local authorities draw down the funding. No further additional projects or spend are envisaged under LIHAF, as explained in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 945 of 10 July 2018, as it is expected that such projects will fall to be considered under the €2 billion urban regeneration and development fund, the €1 billion rural regeneration and development fund or the €75 million serviced sites fund, as appropriate.
