Land Development Agency

* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the anticipated number of affordable, social and private units to be developed under the land development agency per annum from its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the location the new land agency will be based; the anticipated number of staff and annual operating budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

REPLY

To support the work of the Land Development Agency, the Government has agreed new policies requiring that a minimum of 30% of public lands coming forward for redevelopment and/or disposal are to be reserved for affordable housing purposes (in addition to the statutory requirement for 10% social housing under the existing Part V provisions), ensuring more housing supply at more affordable prices and rents. 
Ahead of its launch earlier this month, the LDA has secured access to State lands which can yield 3,000 new homes. It is currently in discussions with State bodies in relation to land for another 7,000 homes and a minimum of 40% of the homes built on all State land will be in the form of a mix of social and affordable housing.
Subsequent to the Agency's establishment last week, a detailed business plan and development programme is currently being prepared and will be finalised shortly, and this plan will set out further detail in relation to the initial and longer-term tranches of sites and the anticipated delivery of homes on such sites. 
Detailed arrangements for the operation of the Agency are currently being developed by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of An Taoiseach and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with a view to their early finalisation.  While the Agency currently has three core staff at its establishment, it is expected to expand its existing capacity over the coming weeks, and in time may employ around 25 people, with the requisite skills and experience to deliver on its policy and legislative mandate.