Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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302. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will address concerns that local authority procurement processes are significantly delaying the provision of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4223/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Procurement in relation to social housing build developments, from pre-planning through to construction, arises primarily in relation to procurement of consultants and procurement of contractors. These procurement arrangements are the normal national and EU procurement requirements, as required by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of all publicly-funded capital projects. As major public sector bodies, local authorities deal with procurement on an ongoing basis across many areas of activity, not just social housing construction. Accordingly, they have a strong level of experience and expertise in the area of procurement.

However, I recognise that the ramping up of social housing activity in line with the targets of Rebuilding Irelandwill create additional challenges for local authorities and AHBs. Accordingly, Rebuilding Irelandcontains a commitment that the Housing Agency will establish a new Housing Procurement Unit to provide a procurement centre of excellence and advice in support of local authorities and AHBs in the accelerated delivery of their social housing programmes. The Procurement Unit has now been established and I look forward to the positive benefits it will bring in assisting social housing delivery.