Local Authority Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 June 2015

Thursday, 11 June 2015

Questions (205)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

205. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that a significant cohort of new housing units in the immediate future will be operated under lease, under the housing assistance payment scheme or under the rental accommodation scheme, his plans to reconfigure staffing at local authority level to include a tenancy protection unit at certain high-pressure areas such as in County Kildare and in other commuter belt counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22638/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisation arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.

My Department works closely with all local authorities and all have been invited to submit staffing sanction requests to facilitate the delivery of the Government's Social Housing Strategy. To date in 2015, my Department has received and approved in excess of 200 housing related staffing requests.