Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

Anyone who has no planning work to do or anyone wishing to carry out additional work where there is spare capacity will be asked to do other work such as this. This would be the prudent policy for any local authority management in order to ensure that staff are working to full capacity. The Department will consider carefully any additional staff resources requested by Kildare County Council. I do not think we have refused any requests for additional staff of a permanent nature who have been required to fulfil certain objectives, contrary to what the Deputy might have been told.

The Deputy also asked about the role of the local authority with regard to continuous inspection. When an inspection is carried out, certain remedial action will be requested and, as in the case of an NCT inspection for a car, it is up to the home owner to ensure the remedial action is carried out.

See this speech in context