Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
303. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new staff provided to each local authority to deliver affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3453/22]
View answer304. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new staff requested by each local authority to deliver affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3454/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 304 together.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, the assignment of local authority staff to a particular function, such as the delivery of affordable housing, is a matter for the Chief Executive.
However, as part of the measures to support institutional capacity, Housing for All commits to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects and recognises that this requires the resourcing of the housing services of local authorities. Last year, my Department worked closely with local authorities, through the CCMA and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office, to identify capacity constraints and additional staffing resources required to deliver the social housing targets set out in Housing for All. Following this analysis, I approved over 200 new posts for local authorities.
My Department, with the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office, is now undertaking a review of affordable housing staff resources similar to the recent review of social housing delivery of local authority capacity.
Key considerations in this review include the number of local authorities with identified affordability constraints, the type of structure (administrative/professional staff) necessary to deliver affordable housing and the degree of overlap/synergy there might be with the additional support being provided for social housing delivery.
The review of affordable housing staffing needs is dependent on finalisation of Housing Delivery Actions Plans and is intended to be initiated by mid-February.
