112. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of the projects approved in Offaly under the first call under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48044/26]

The new €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) was launched in January to support investment in housing enabling infrastructure projects. Call 1 seeking applications from local authorities and the Land development Agency (LDA) opened on 21 January 2026 and closed on Friday 27 February 2026. 138 applications were received from local authorities across the country, including Offaly County Council, and from the LDA.

Following an assessment, I approved 82 projects for inclusion in the HIIF programme under Call 1, which were announced on 16 June 2026. A full list of projects accepted to the HIIF programme under Call 1 can be accessed at the following link: assets.gov.ie/static/documents/9d47d273/Housing_Infrastructure_Investment_Fund_Call_1_-_List_of_Projects.pdf

In Offaly, the following infrastructure projects have been accepted onto the HIIF programme:

The Rectory Fields project in Birr comprises a link road and active travel facilities through a town centre site. The project will activate a vacant site of almost 6 hectares that is owned by Offaly County Council and zoned for housing and mixed-use development. This project directly unlocks land for up to 126 new homes, with the potential for a further 50 new homes, alongside community and retail uses.

The Birr South Land Activation Scheme comprises a new link road from the R440 regional road. This is the last section of a road linking the N52 national road to the R440 regional road. It will unlock housing lands on the east side of Birr with the potential to directly unlock up to 425 new homes, and potential to unlock a further 325 new homes. The project will include Active Travel facilities and water and wastewater infrastructure to service the benefitting lands and wider area.

The Clonminch Land Activation Scheme in Tullamore is the first phase of a strategic link road that will unlock housing lands to the south of Tullamore, south of the railway. It consists of the construction of a 1 kilometre link road and a section of the Tullamore Southern Interceptor Sewer which is part of the Uisce Éireann Strategic Wastewater Network Upgrade in Tullamore. This project directly unlocks land for up to 656 new homes and indirectly unlock a further 650 new homes.

The Housing Activation Office will continue to work with Offaly County Council and relevant stakeholders to support the timely progression of these important housing enabling infrastructure projects.