Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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727. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the powers he has delegated to the Ministers of State in his Department; the date on which such delegation was made; if there were changes in powers delegated relative to the situation in place prior to 14 June 2017; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42783/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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There are two Ministers of State assigned to my Department, Minister of State Damien English and Minister of State John Paul Phelan.

A range of responsibilities in the areas of Planning, Housing, Marine and Foreshore, and Fire Services have been assigned to Minister of State English.   These functions include oversight of the implementation of local authority Development Plans and Local Area Plans; aspects of student accommodation relevant to my Department; responsibility for the Approved Housing Bodies (Regulation) Bill and establishment of a statutory Regulator as well as coordination of the Government response to Unfinished Housing Developments and housing for older people, people with a disability and policy surrounding Traveller accommodation; functions under the Foreshore Act 1933, including assessment of foreshore leases and licences; and responsibility for the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management.

The detailed legislative powers delegated to Minister English are outlined in the Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2017, which was signed on 26 July 2017.

These powers and responsibilities have changed somewhat since 14 June 2017.  In his previous role as Minister of State in the then Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Minister of State English had responsibilities in relation to certain elements of Housing and Planning along with certain responsibilities in the Community area which have now transferred to the Department of Rural and Community Development.  The related legislative powers which were delegated to Minister of State English under my predecessor are outlined in the Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2017 which was signed on 28 March 2017.

Responsibility for substantial elements of policy and legislation in the areas of Local Government and Electoral Reform have been assigned to Minister of State Phelan. The preparation of an Order to delegate the extensive associated legislative powers is well underway and the final Order is expected to be submitted to Government in the coming weeks.