Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let me respond. In the first instance, I clearly articulated the resource base that a local authority would have. Heretofore under the SHD process, the resource base was shared 50-50 with the board but the local authority will now retain 100% of an application fee, which is significant. This will provide resourcing to ensure that the local authority has a robust planning department.

In tandem with that, a working group has been established with the County and City Management Association, CCMA - its first meeting is pencilled in for February - to examine and review local authorities' staffing arrangements in general, given the increased workload they will have. They will have resources to match that coming from the applications to them.

Many of the mandatory timelines in the SHD process are being adhered to within the local authority sector, which will lead to improvements by reducing further information requests and having in place a system that is more stress tested and slimmed down, which I hope will provide more valuable homes for our citizens.

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