Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
167. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether an assessment has been undertaken by his Department of infrastructural deficits, including wastewater, transport, and electricity capacity, which are constraining housing delivery in the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48262/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe city and county development plans are required to set out a strategy for the planning and development of an area. An assessment of the infrastructure needed to support planned growth is a core part of the statutory plan making process. Under Section 10 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) the development plans must include policies and objectives relating to the provision of infrastructure, including wastewater, transport and energy.
In the Dublin region the Development Plans for the four Dublin local authorities, together with associated local area plans, identify the cross sectoral infrastructure needed to support housing development.
My Department is supporting the delivery of critical housing across the country through targeted funding schemes and initiatives.
These include the establishment of the Housing Activation Office (HAO) and the introduction of the new Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) in 2025 and 2026, alongside older schemes such as the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) and Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF).
The HAO is working with key stakeholders to drive the delivery of the critical infrastructure required to unlock housing development. The office is developing a coordinated programme of investment across towns and cities nationwide that will align investment across utilities and transport agencies to unlock housing lands and enable homes to be delivered.
Since its establishment, the HAO has engaged extensively with various stakeholders, including the four local authorities in Dublin and utilities and transport agencies, to identify and address infrastructure constraints.
On 21 January 2026, the Government launched the new €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) to support investment in housing enabling infrastructure. The fund is managed by the Housing Activation Office.
A total of 138 applications were received from local authorities and the Land Development Agency under the first call for applications. Following a detailed assessment process, 82 projects have been approved for inclusion in the HIIF programme.
A full list of projects accepted to the HIIF programme can be accessed at the following link: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/9d47d273/Housing_Infrastructure_Investment_Fund_Call_1_-_List_of_Projects.pdf
Under the first Call 12 projects have been accepted onto the HIIF programme in the Dublin Region with the potential to activate up to 57,000 homes. These projects will directly address barriers to housing delivery at these 12 locations. The works include the provision of roads, a road bridge, a railway bridge, utility and parks infrastructure.
My Department will continue to work with the Dublin local authorities and the infrastructure agencies to coordinate infrastructure works at a local level as part of these key housing enabling projects in Dublin.
