Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Housing policy is written for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. IGEES staff in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform carry out research in a broad range of areas affecting expenditure. While this informs the evidence base that is provided by officials in ministerial briefings, housing policy is developed and implemented within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. IGEES is an integrated cross-government service which seeks to enhance the role of analysis and evidence-based policymaking. The two housing analytical notes published last December are independent pieces of research conducted by IGEES staff in the Department. IGEES staff in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform regularly undertake research, producing papers, as I have said already.

The planning permissions and housing supply note seeks to broaden the evidence base underpinning the planning process by examining refusal rates, decision times and planning appeals using available data. It also discusses the relationship between planning permission and recent trends in housing supply more broadly, drawing on the available data, as well as the existing research and literature on the topic. A key finding from the research highlights the need for the improved quality of planning data and for further research to be conducted to provide clear insights on the planning process and impacts on commencements and delivery.

The second housing analytical note examines the activity and take-up of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan, as I have already said. The findings highlighted the strong demand that is there. All of the work carried out by IGEES within the Department forms the evidence base which officials use to brief the Minister. All papers are publicly available and published on the IGEES website. Any member of Government or the public can view this research and its findings. Going back to Deputy Ó Cathasaigh's point, the Minister fully supports the transparency that allows members of the public, stakeholders and the Government colleagues to access the pieces of research and analysis carried out on his behalf.

All research and analysis papers prepared by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, IGEES, including work prepared by staff in the Department, while used to inform policymakers, are independent and do not necessarily represent the ministerial policy view or the position of the Department or Government. This independence is an important pillar in its contribution to evidence-based policymaking.

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