Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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46. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he can approve increased staffing levels throughout the local authorities, with a view to meeting the challenge of the extra workload arising from the housing situation; the extent to which any such augmentation has been made available to Kildare County Council, and other local authorities with similar requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9065/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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On 4 February 2015, I announced that my Department, in conjunction with the Department for Public Expenditure & Reform, has approved approximately 200 staff for local authorities, in order to support the implementation of the Social Housing Strategy 2020.The type of posts involved include Architects, Engineers, Planners, Surveyors, Housing Officers and Craftsmen, at varying grades. Local Authorities, including Kildare County Council, are currently in the process of assessing their technical and administrative resource requirements to deliver both the Housing Capital Programmes and also the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme. My Department has approved 7 housing related posts for Kildare County Council since October 2014.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for Chief Executives, in the first instance, to ensure that the appropriate service levels are maintained.

My Department continues to work closely with Kildare County Council and other local authorities in relation to their staffing requirements for housing.