SDCC must draw down funds from their allocated €27.39m to kick start Housing

New Figures reveal Government’s failure to provide key Infrastructure causing delay in housing provision – Curran

Local Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Mid-West John Curran has called on the Government to end its ‘go slow’ approach to local infrastructure provision which will in turn result in the provision of essential housing.

In new information received by the Deputy through a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government has revealed that only €1.6million in funding has been drawn down to date of the €266 million announced to 15 Local authorities in October 2016 through the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) 2017 – 2019.Commenting on the issue Deputy Curran said: “It is very disappointing to hear that considering the amount of Government and Council funding allocated to certain projects and sites through the LIHAF that such a low level of funding has been drawn down at this stage of 2018.

The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund was to provide local infrastructure necessary for the activation of Housing. In my own area of South Dublin County Council the Government has promised 3,000 homes to be delivered by 2021 on account of the LIHAF in the area. South Dublin County Council was allocated a total of €27.39m and no funds have been drawn to date in 2018.  When services are not provided; housing is not provided.

The areas in South Dublin County Council that have been identified for this funding to subsequently provide housing are all key major urban development sites that will provide social and affordable housing in the area; therefore we cannot allow delays in the drawing down of this essential funding,” concluded Deputy Curran.