Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there is sufficient staffing and expertise in the technical departments of local authorities to deliver increased build in social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3384/16]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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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, in the first instance, for Chief Executives, to ensure that the appropriate staffing and service levels are delivered and maintained.

My Department, however, works closely with local authorities with regard to the implementation of the Government's Social Housing Strategy and in 2015 all local authorities were invited to submit staffing sanction requests to facilitate its delivery. Furthermore, the staffing approval process was also streamlined to ensure the fast tracking of staffing sanction requests. As a result, in 2015, over four hundred local authority posts were sanctioned for recruitment, to support the delivery of the Social Housing Strategy.

Moreover, new recoupment arrangements were also put in place in October 2015 with regard to additional recoupment of administrative and other costs associated with new build social housing projects.

In terms of technical expertise a new procurement framework for the sourcing of professional and technical services has been put in place which will allow local authorities to source technical support more quickly and efficiently.

In addition to staffing, major financial resources have also been allocated to local authorities to fund increased delivery of social housing.