Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1140. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of the officials seconded to the new strategic housing activation office within his Department; the length of time the secondments are expected to last; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45013/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department is progressing work to establish the Housing Activation Office (HAO) to support housing delivery by addressing infrastructure barriers.

My Department does not comment on the specifics of individual staff and their rate of pay.

To date, six staff have been assigned or seconded to the HAO.  In addition to the secondees in place, senior staff including a Senior Advisor and Assistant Principal have been assigned to the Office from within my Department with significant expertise in Planning and Project Management.  Further administrative support is in place along with cross departmental collaboration. 

The secondees currently in place include senior specialists from Uisce Éireann, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), and the National Transport Authority (NTA).

In relation to the secondee appointments, my Department is guided by the advice issued to all Government Departments by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, which is available at the following link - hr.per.gov.ie/en/corporate-pages/career/mobility/secondment/. 

Appointments are expected shortly from ESB Networks (ESBN) and the Local Government sector.

My Department cannot comment on the responsibilities held by secondees in their parent organisation, however, the relevant bodies were invited to propose secondees with appropriate experience in areas relevant to the HAO.

The staff within the HAO will be tasked with identifying and seeking to address infrastructure barriers to housing delivery, by engaging with key delivery stakeholders, coordinating cross-agency collaboration, and supporting the development of a pipeline of housing enabling infrastructure projects.  Responsibilities of staff and secondees in the HAO will vary depending on expertise, but will be in line with the Terms of Reference, which is available at the following link -   assets.gov.ie/static/documents/Housing_Activation_Office_Terms_of_Reference_-_29th_April_2025.pdf .