Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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343. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the average length of time for social housing projects to complete the four stage approval process; and the average length of time to complete each of the four stages. [22316/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Information is not available in a clearcut manner in relation to the time taken through the 4-stage approval process in relation to social housing construction projects because, first of all, the process has only been rolled out in its current form relatively recently. In that time, the number of projects that have moved through all 4 stages would not provide a basis for generating a meaningful average. Secondly, my Department encourages a pragmatic approach to the engagement with local authorities around the approval of social housing construction projects, as well as informal technical dialogue to resolve issues. That approach can result in either a truncating of the 4-stage process - for example, stages 2 and 3 may be assessed together in some cases - or it might add to the time it takes to issue an approval in nominal terms, to allow for technical-focused dialogue, but would be a more productive approach in terms of getting projects from conception to completion as efficiently as possible.

The 4-stage approval process is a streamlining of the stages covered under Capital Works Management Framework and consists of:

- Stage 1 - Capital Appraisal (establish the business case);

- Stage 2 - Brief pre-planning developed design and cost check;

- Stage 3 - Pre-tender cost check;

- Stage 4 - Tender approval.

These 4 stages are advanced largely in parallel with the normal local authority work on planning, designing and tendering of social housing construction projects. Therefore projects continue to be advanced while stages are cleared and the approval process does not negatively impact on the overall delivery.

The time taken for advancement through the various stages will always vary, with the quality and completeness of the initial proposal and the subsequent submissions a key input in this regard, along with the scale and complexity of individual projects. During this time when projects are being advanced and reviewed, the local authority advances the issues relating to planning, design, procurement and statutory consents.

While I am satisfied that the pragmatic approach to the approval of social housing projects is the right balance between getting projects advanced, while ensuring the oversight required for publicly-funded construction projects, the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness published today commits to the early establishment of a high-level Housing Delivery Office within my Department and to carry out a further review of the social housing approval process within three months.