Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 214: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the length of time it takes to process each application under his Department's capital loan and subsidy scheme on a county basis; the number on hand for each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40481/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department's involvement with the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the scheme, including the detailed appraisal of new applications, the management of the planning and procurement stages of projects and the certification that particular projects comply with the terms of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the relevant local authority.

In accordance with the Guidelines for the Appraisal and Management of Capital Expenditure Proposals in the Public Sector, issued by the Department of Finance in February 2005, my Department must ensure the achievement of efficiency, effectiveness and value for money in the provision of all voluntary and co-operative housing projects. The Capital Works Management Framework gives practical effect to these guidelines with regard to the appraisal, planning, procurement and approval stages of projects. These will vary according to the scope, complexity and cost of projects. The funding approval route will also vary depending on the cost of projects with separate procedures applying to projects with a capital value of up to €5 million, projects with a capital value of between €5m and €20m and those with a capital value greater than €20m. In addition, a full Cost Benefit Analysis may be needed as well as consultation with the National Development Finance Agency on the financial options for developing projects.

It is not possible to give a timescale for progressing a project from the initial appraisal stage through to the completion of the planning, design, procurement and funding approval stages. It is the policy of my Department, subject to funding being available, to progress schemes as expeditiously as possible. However, due to the complexity and size of some schemes, timescales can vary as further consultation may be required with the local authority or the voluntary body concerned at key stages in the project life-cycle.

There are some 44 CLSS applications on hand in my Department at present, of which 15 are awaiting funding approval. Having regard to the existing high level of commitments under the CLSS and the substantial number of schemes being advanced through the planning and design stages, I will now be considering the scope to approve further projects in the light of the available funding.

The information requested, broken down by local authority area, is set out in the following table: