Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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43. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the resources which have been provided for the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33811/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. 

Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 682 of 2020 prescribed Dublin City Council-National Building Control Office (NBCO-DCC) as a competent authority to carry out the functions of a Market Surveillance Authority under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 ( S.I. No. 225 of 2013 ) (CPR). This service delivered by NBCO-DCC is complementary to the existing role of the 31 Building Control Authorities who are also Market Surveillance Authorities.  

In 2020, my Department provided a budget allocation of €500,000 to support the development of this Market Surveillance Unit.  €147,000 of the budget was expended as the project was at the early development set up phase.  

In 2021, my Department has provided a budget allocation of €564,000 to continue to support the development, and resourcing of the Market Surveillance Unit.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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44. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the additional funding provided by his Department to local authorities to help them to provide facilities for an outdoor summer. [33920/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I recently announced the provision of just over €4m for local authorities to assist them in their plans for the facilitation of an outdoor summer in the context of the safe reopening of the economy and society in line with the Government’s “Resilience and Recovery: The Path Ahead” plan.

Local Authorities are best placed to determine the type of facilities that are most appropriate to support a safe outdoor summer and where they are most needed. This scheme is not intended to be overly prescriptive and the funding may be used for the provision and maintenance of public amenities and signage that will facilitate outdoor activities and leisure in compliance with public health guidelines at sites around the country.  These sites could include parks, beaches, greenways, pedestrianised streets or any other popular visitor sites in a local authority area.

The announcement of this funding comes on top of other allocations to the sector to facilitate an outdoor summer announced by Mr. Eamonn Ryan T.D., Minister for Transport and Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. These allocations include €5m for improving litter bin infrastructure and €13m to facilitate outdoor dining.