Ms Maria Graham:

What we were addressing in the first instance was that we had been funding offices but there was not a full-time officer. We have increased the funding to €60,000 on the basis they will become full time. In parallel, we are looking at the resourcing of planning departments and including the town regeneration process. That is a deep dive into what is required from a multidisciplinary perspective in local authorities. It may show, as the Deputy suggests, that in large counties more people are required and there may be different requirements and levels for different counties. That work is being initiated with the City and County Management Association, CCMA, because one of the commitments in Housing for All is that local authorities are appropriately resourced to deliver on the objectives. There have already been 200 new posts in housing approved by the Minister and this is the leg that is looking deeply at the planning component.