Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have a simple question. The then Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, announced a plan for an independent audit of construction costs in October 2016. Is the Minister surprised we have not had that yet? He mentioned other recommendations that emanated from special design groupings within his Department and in conjunction with other bodies and so forth. However, this was specific. This was the then Minister saying he needed at his disposal an independent audit of construction costs. He appointed a group to provide that in October 2016. By 27 February 2018 this Dáil has not yet seen sight of it even though it is thrown at us consistently when we suggest that in order to assist in addressing the cost of construction, many factors needed to be dealt with. These include, for example, development levies, certification, the cost of credit or finance and the VAT rate applicable to the construction sector.

Irrespective of whether the Minister agrees with it, the Government decided that it would be led by this independent assessment. That would be fine and we could deal with it if it were laid before the House. It seems a very long time. Is the Minister disappointed it has not been published earlier? Why has it not been published earlier? He already said that the other report could be available in six weeks. Maybe a similar commitment could be given in this area.

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