Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Yes, there are a couple of issues. On page 5 in the second paragraph, it reads, "In respect of the oversight of exceptional funding being provided to the Peter McVerry Trust, the Department has put in place an Oversight Group made up of representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive." Obviously, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive looks after the homeless services for the four Dublin local authorities. It has quite substantial contracts. Just as an inquiry, is it completely separate under the remit of the local authorities or does the Department of housing have any remit with the Dublin Region Homeless Executive? The executive has taken out gigantic contracts so is it overseen by the Department? A recent contract is €84 million for ten years. I was shocked that we would be talking about providing a lease for ten years for homelessness, and in a building that was bought for €24 million that €84 million is going to be paid for the lease. Where is the oversight on the Dublin Region Homeless Executive? I ask because the executive spans four Dublin local authorities.

The second point I wanted to raise concerns, page 9, No. 5, planning and development, section 178. It is the Part 8 planning permission process where the land is residentially zoned and in the ownership of the local charity or prescribed State body. Obviously, there is an exemption from receiving planning permission. One of the criticisms about getting social and affordable housing built were the blockages at Department level. Obviously the Part 8 planning process is time limited. That Part 8 process is not one of the blockages. How many projects have happened under the Part 8 process which is exempt from needing planning permission? Has that addressed any of the issues concerned with having to go through four or five different processes to get funding, which can elongate the process within the Department?