Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
17. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on plans to introduce a new local infrastructure housing activation fund-type scheme; if such a scheme could be made available for the St. Waleran’s site in Gorey, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35378/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government recognised the need for acceleration of home building by unblocking infrastructure delays and by coordinating investment in servicing zoned land.
Government has agreed to the establishment of a new Housing Activation Office, which will be the delivery mechanism for the PfG commitment, and my Department has already begun putting together a team of specialists in the areas of infrastructure, planning and housing who will work together to tackle barriers to housing development on the ground.
The Office will identify, and seek to address, barriers to the delivery of infrastructure projects required to enable housing development. It will engage and align key stakeholders, including local authorities, infrastructure providers, industry and others to address barriers in a coordinated way.
A new action focused Housing Activation Delivery Group is being established, which I will chair, and it will support the Office in developing a coordinated programme of public infrastructure investment. This group will comprise senior representation from key Departments, infrastructure providers, regulators, public housing delivery partners and other public sector expertise.
In addition, a new Housing Activation Industry Group will provide for regular structured engagement between the Office and industry representative bodies
It is also envisaged that the Office will manage a multi-annual housing infrastructure investment fund under the National Development Plan. The scope of this fund will be determined as part of the review of the National Development Plan, which is due to be completed in July. This will inform the programme of investment.
While I cannot comment on any individual sites in advance of the opening of that fund for infrastructure proposals, there will be engagement across the different stakeholders, including local authorities, to identify priority areas for investment.
