Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have approved many additional new positions in terms of planners, engineers, architects and quantity surveyors, particularly linked to housing. More approvals have been given than posts have been filled. In the past 12 months or so, many local authorities have added to their housing teams. Deputy Coppinger is right in that there was a moratorium on recruitment for a number of years for understandable reasons but that is no longer in place. We are asking local authorities to do much more in the housing and development area generally. It is not the case for all local authorities because, from a development point of view, Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick and other cities are progressing at a different pace from other parts of the country, but we are trying to make sure that the human resources are in place to be able to respond. There is not only that issue but there also needs to be an understanding within local authorities that they cannot simply move at their own pace, that priority needs to be given to matters and that there is a reason timelines are in place. If there is a genuine problem meeting that timeline because of staffing resources, I need to know about it and we need to help them on that. There also needs to be a mindset that takes on board that we are setting timelines for a reason and that there needs to be an efficiency in management to deal with that. Some local authorities are good at that and others on which we get feedback suggest there is room for improvement. Setting a four week period gives a clear signal to local authorities as to what is acceptable and what is not.