Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the last question in respect of staff, 250 staff were to be recruited for the social housing project and 180 of those are currently in place. Recruitment is ongoing for the other 70. There are 69 staff in place for affordable housing. As I said, 250 new staff were approved to support the delivery of social housing and it is an important measure. Recruitment commenced in late 2021 and into 2022 and will continue.

Regarding the question on planning, additional funding was provided and the Chair made reference to it earlier requesting a figure. The County and City Management Association, CCMA, recently completed a report outlining the need for approximately 540 additional planning staff. A working group has been established but within the Department, €5.4 million has been allocated to local authority resources and supports. The increased investment in the resources and planning system provides funding for additional staff for local authorities and supports for a new planning and learning development initiative that is currently being finalised. This will feed into the CCMA and is very much a positive development. The issue is not just about recruitment. We need to look at how we bring planners through the education system. Anecdotally, there is a worry that many planners who are coming to local authorities are being recruited from other local authorities. This is something we need to address.