Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. McCarthy and welcome him. I am supportive of NOAC and I am familiar with the overview of it but I am not sure if the public at large is familiar with it. There is a lot of work to be done there in how it promotes itself and how it sets the standards. NOAC clearly has a matrix of standards that it judges people from.

On resources, does NOAC have the capacity and the resources? Mr. McCarthy's predecessor mentioned here previously that there may have been issues and constraints with the resources. I note that NOAC's budget was €200,000 last year and this year again. That is an issue I want to talk about.

NOAC also says that it has a second customer survey for users of local authority services and that this will be completed in a further 11 authorities. The witnesses might tell us when that report is due because that is really important. NOAC also mentions that it is looking at and planning to begin to examine the possible scope and the potential for grouping local authorities for comparative purposes and exercises. What sort of local authorities is NOAC talking about grouping together and what is the rationale behind that? It is difficult because they are all different in size and make up. There is a range of reasons it is difficult but NOAC might look at that.

Is NOAC satisfied that it has sufficient resources to enable it to carry out its work and its future planned programme? The witnesses might explain that to us. NOAC also mentioned in its report that a Government Minister can commission NOAC to do a specific piece of work. Has NOAC been asked by any Government Minister in the last 12 months or the last 24 months to specifically deal with a particular issue, project or piece of research? If so, what was that about and what was the outcome of that? I hope Mr. McCarthy does not mind me asking and he might just touch on that. Does NOAC think that the revised indicators used to measure housing in 2017 are appropriate? I would like the witnesses to comment on that and tell us what the changes are. There are significant variations among the local authorities in processing fire safety certificates within the two month timeframe set down. Can the witnesses explain the reasons for such variance? It is 100% for Cork County Council and 10% for South Dublin County Council. I will leave the witnesses with those questions.