Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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506. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his priorities for the remainder of his term in office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32775/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My priority will be to continue to deliver on those commitments within the Programme for Government for which I have responsibility. As the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have clearly stated, the focus of the Government is to broaden and deepen the economic recovery so that it is felt by individuals, families and communities in their daily lives.

Among the areas which will con tribute to that ongoing recovery will be publication of the outline of a new Planning Bill to support a faster recovery and higher standards in the residential and commercial construction sectors; enabling local authorities to incentivise the use and development of vacant sites; as well as the utilisation of the new network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices in the 31 local authorities to support entrepreneurship and small business activity throughout the country, along with the wider reforms of the local government system, particularly in terms of economic and community development.

The improvement of housing supply is vital to both our society and economy. I will bring forward new planning legislation to reform Part V and the local authority development contributions regime to reduce the burden on new housing development. Measures to increase the supply of social housing will be a key priority, along with housing for those on low incomes and ending homelessness and the need to sleep rough by 2016. Through the development of a new Social Housing Strategy, a public housing provision approach will be delivered that provides for those households who cannot afford to house themselves and also assists those who struggle to afford housing in the private market.

It is essential that our recovery is based on sustainable development and addresses the long term issues and I am committed to enactment of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill, together with a new national roadmap to help Ireland meet its climate change targets.

I will also be continuing the Government’s programme of rebuilding trust in politics and bringing forward legislation for the establishment of an Electoral Commission.

In addressing this wide-ranging brief, I am committed to driving the work of my Department to ensure it plays a significant part in or country’s economic and social recovery.