Who We Are

Who are the

Land Development Agency (LDA)

The LDA are a commercial, State-sponsored body that has been created to coordinate land within State control for more optimal uses where appropriate, with a focus on the provision of housing.

The LDA will improve the way the housing market functions by:

  • Working with State bodies and Local Authorities to make more effective use of State lands, providing a stable, sustainable supply of land for housing.
  • Improving the planning system to facilitate State lands being used for housing.
  • Acquiring and developing land in a selective, targeted way that boosts housing supply.
  • Delivering rental market initiatives that provide affordable mass-market tenure.
  • Investing in research and innovation to identify new and better ways to deliver new homes.
  • Providing high-level expertise underpinned by robust governance.
Advisory Group

Columb Barracks Advisory Group

Westmeath County Council’s Mullingar Local Area Plan has identified the Columb Barracks site as a Major Regeneration Opportunity site.  Columb Barracks Advisory Group was established in January 2021 to provide an opportunity for key partners to collaborate and to advise the LDA in developing a vision for the regeneration of Columb Barracks.  The members of the group consist of the LDA, Westmeath County Council, Enterprise Ireland, Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board, Mullingar Chamber and Westmeath Public Participation Network (PPN).  The key objective of the Advisory Group is to help inform the Regeneration Plan for the site and to work collaboratively to advise the LDA in progressing proposals for the key elements of the regeneration project.

Westmeath County Council was established under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. It has its administrative headquarters in Mullingar. The Council is mandated to deliver a diverse range of functions and services which can be broadly described under the headings of economic development, community development, provision of physical and social infrastructure, recreation and amenity services, and the enforcement of the planning and environmental regulatory framework.

Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. Enterprise Ireland work in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets.

In this way, they support sustainable economic growth, regional development and secure employment.

Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board is the body with responsibility for education and training through schools, youth work, further education and a range of other statutory function across both counties. It manages and operates 8 second-level schools with over 3200 post-primary students, 12 further education and training centres, and a range of adult and further education programmes delivering education and training courses.

Mullingar Chamber is a business organisation representing almost 200 businesses, large and small, from all commercial sectors – retailing, manufacturing and the service industries through the professions.

The Public Participation Network (PPN) is the national framework for public engagement and participation also established within the Westmeath Local Authority area. The establishment of Public Participation Networks is part of a national reform process which is changing the way local government and citizens engage with each other. The PPN is organised in accordance with the Westmeath Local Authority.

The PPN is the main link through which the local authority connects with the community and voluntary, social inclusion and environmental sectors.

LDA Enterprise Ireland
Phelim O’Neill - Chair (PON) Neil Kerrigan (NK)
Rob Farrell (RF) Longford and Westmeath ETB
Ashling O’Toole (AOT) Liz Lavery (LL)
West Meath County Council Mullingar Chamber
Cllr John Shaw (JS) John Geoghegan (JG)
Pat Gallagher (PG) Westmeath PPN
Helen Donnelly (HD)