Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
418. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has identified any structural, legal, financial, or administrative constraints that limit the effective use of the Land Acquisition Fund by local authorities, including issues related to site viability, timing, valuation, or co-funding requirements; and if he will outline any steps taken to address such constraints. [13903/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra419. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration has been given to introducing greater flexibility into the Land Acquisition Fund, including but not limited to staged acquisitions, advance purchase, or earlier intervention in the land market, in order to accelerate housing delivery; and if not, the reasons for same. [13904/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 419 together.
Under the new housing plan, Delivery Homes, Building Communities, the Land Acquisition Fund (LAF) will be reformed, streamlined and expanded to ensure it is fit for purpose and can support the level of ambition in the Plan. To this end, the fund will be increased from €239m to at least €500m and this increased capacity will help establish the fund as a revolving fund, providing greater flexibility and also ensuring it will operate in perpetuity and help secure a sustainable pipeline of land for delivery of social and affordable housing over the long-term.
As of end of January 2026, €71,350,250 has been spent on 28 site acquisitions which can deliver 2,128 new homes. The number of acquisition to date demonstrates the efficacy and accessibility of the fund and any additional reforms and streamlining measures that are introduced will build on this progress. The proposed LAF reforms aim to enhance the existing process and to scale up the operation of the fund.
In early 2025, following an instruction from my Department, the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office, which is part of the Local Government Management Agency, convened a working group, comprising representatives from fifteen local authorities and two AHBs. A completed report setting out 23 recommendations was returned to my Department. The recommendations put forward by the working group are being considered together with the findings of my Departments own internal review.
All aspects of the operation of the fund are being examined in the context of these recommendations and sectoral feedback will be taken into consideration when putting streamlining measures in place. It should be noted to date, no application for funding has been refused. The Housing Agency actively engages with local authorities and AHBs to ensure that the Land Acquisition Fund is easily accessible within optimal timelines.
