Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
431. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if supports are available to local authorities to purchase and develop industrial and warehouse lands and estates within their administrative areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47121/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Land Acquisition Fund was established to fund the acquisition of developable land to underpin the delivery of housing out to 2030.
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.
The Land Acquisition Fund is overseen by my Department and managed by the Housing Agency. The process for application and draw down of funding is set out on the Housing Agency website available at: https://www.housingagency.ie/land-acquisition-fund
As of the end of May 2026, over €84.6m has been spent from the fund on 32 site acquisitions, which can deliver 2,331 new homes.
There is nothing to prevent the type of lands referred to being repurposed for housing and supports would be available from my Department to turn such lands into social and/or affordable housing schemes. It would be a matter for local authorities in the first instance to bring forward any such proposals for funding consideration under the various funding schemes available from my Department.
