Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (Revised)

9:30 am

Photo of Maria BaileyMaria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At the request of the broadcasting and recording services, members are requested to ensure that for the duration of the meeting their mobile phones are turned off completely or switched to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on the device used. It is not sufficient to leave them in silent mode as this will maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting system.

No apologies have been received.

On 15 December 2016 the Dáil requested that the Revised Estimate for 2017 for the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government be referred to the committee. I welcome the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney; the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, who is responsible for urban renewal; and the Minister of State with responsibility for communities and the national drugs strategy, Deputy Catherine Byrne, and officials from the Department. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the Revised Estimate. The proposed format is that we deal with Vote 34 on a programme by programme basis. The Minister will begin by making an opening statement. We will then discuss the various individual programmes. We will then open up the discussion to allow members to ask questions on the various subheads. Members will be called in the order in which they have indicated. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I call on the Minister to make his opening statement.

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