Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Secretary General and his staff for attending the committee to update us on the first quarterly report on Rebuilding Ireland. We all recognise the significant challenge in this regard and we acknowledge the efforts being made across the various pillars.

My main interest is where progress has not been made, targets not met and to understand why that is the case. For example, the Secretary General outlined various construction programmes and how 21 local authorities have applied for funding under the €200 million local infrastructure fund to open up development plans. Do we have specific details as to which local authorities have applied and what development lands are under application? Why have local authorities which would have potential not submitted applications?

The construction of more than 2,800 housing units will be commenced by either local authorities or by approved housing bodies. Can we identify what local authorities or approved housing bodies have applied? Can we identify where there is further capacity? For the committee to be more beneficial to the whole Rebuilding Ireland project, it is important it engages with those local authorities or approved housing bodies to identify any barriers and assist them in making a more efficient application process and, in turn, completion process to deliver more units.

I also want to raise the issue of performance indicators, not only in local authorities but in the Department, regarding monitoring from application to approval to completion.

What progress has been made to make that whole process more efficient? As we all know, irrespective of who we represent, what party we are in or whether we are Independent, that there has been much criticism of the Department in terms of the approval system when applications are made, and in turn there has been criticism of local authorities that they are not efficient in driving their individual housing programmes. As a committee we can be more beneficial to the whole programme by scrutinising those processes, identifying where the problems are and seeing where we can assist in them. Any information the witnesses can give us in that respect will be helpful and I would appreciate it.