Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator and Deputy for the questions. With regard to figures, the Committee of Public Accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General audit everything we do so we are accountable in that way in terms of the figures. There is no question over that at all. With regard to matters such as the number of homes completed in a year, we are doing ongoing work with the CSO to get an accurate figure. We were using a proxy previously, which I stopped using when I came into office. The completions number is important. Work is happening on the numbers.

With regard to An Bord Pleanála and moving online, the work is significant and requires legislation. The latter is before the Houses but has not been passed yet. It needs to happen. There is no point in me telling the Deputy that I can fast-track the initiative when I cannot. It is something that An Bord Pleanála has to manage itself. I recognise its importance. It is a major piece of work but the legislation is still in the House.

With regard to training schemes, I have had a number of engagements with the Construction Industry Federation, both formally and less formally. A new body is being set up under Project Ireland 2040 on which the federation will sit to ensure we can manage the various infrastructural investments we have to make and have the skilled staff to do so.

One of the benefits we have seen in recent years is an increase in employment in the construction sector. We have seen an increase in skilled people coming back to the country. We have also seen a move to new technologies, which means a number of sites require fewer people than would have been required even five years ago.

Although it is not the direct responsibility of my Department, I am trying to determine whether there is some funding we can give to certain programmes that are community led. One in particular, in my constituency, took people from long-term unemployment and one person from homelessness and gave them jobs, having put them through a very good, expedited skills programme. I attended one of the graduation ceremonies. The people were graduating on a Thursday afternoon and commencing work on a Monday. Therefore, we know there is demand. We just have to make sure the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, and I ensure the Government is aligned in the right way.