Ireland’s Presidency of the EU supported through Departmental reorganisation, internal staff deployment and the engagement of a small number of additional temporary staff. Post-Presidency, a major restructuring project was initiated to improve Departmental efficiency; to date this has delivered significant staff mobility and consolidation of functions with resources directed towards key business priorities, with plans for further restructuring to take place in 2014. A number of Project Teams were established to progress staff recommendations that will, with the agreement of the Management Committee of the Department, bring reform and business process gains/improvements to a range of areas within the Department. The work of these teams will be further progressed over the course of 2014 and beyond. Haddington Road Agreement changes successfully implemented and payroll savings/efficiencies achieved. Over hundred training courses delivered to staff along with 35 external third level courses supported. Chapter 1: Housing High Level Objective To enable all households access good quality housing appropriate to household circumstances and in particular community of choice. The main focus, in terms of housing supports provided by the Department, is on meeting the most acute needs of those unable to provide for accommodation from their own resources. The supports aim to deliver social housing in flexible and cost-effective ways, tailored to meet peoples’ needs at their particular stage in life. Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) SHIP continues, in an efficient and effective manner, to deliver good quality accommodation for those in housing need. Funding is provided to AHBs to deliver suitable social rental accommodation under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) to those with specific housing needs, such as persons with a disability, the elderly and homeless persons. A national improvement works programme in respect of the local authority housing stock and a programme of physical, social and economic regeneration for run down local authority estates and city flat complexes is also implemented under SHIP. In addition, a programme of private housing grants and supports continues to improve the living conditions of those living in their
Ireland’s Presidency of the EU supported through Departmental reorganisation, internal staff deployment and the engagement of a small number of additional temporary staff. Post-Presidency, a major restructuring project was initiated to improve Departmental efficiency; to date this has delivered significant staff mobility and consolidation of functions with resources directed towards key business priorities, with plans for further restructuring to take place in 2014. A number of Project Teams were established to progress staff recommendations that will, with the agreement of the Management Committee of the Department, bring reform and business process gains/improvements to a range of areas within the Department. The work of these teams will be further progressed over the course of 2014 and beyond. Haddington Road Agreement changes successfully implemented and payroll savings/efficiencies achieved. Over hundred training courses delivered to staff along with 35 external third level courses supported. Chapter 1: Housing High Level Objective To enable all households access good quality housing appropriate to household circumstances and in particular community of choice. The main focus, in terms of housing supports provided by the Department, is on meeting the most acute needs of those unable to provide for accommodation from their own resources. The supports aim to deliver social housing in flexible and cost-effective ways, tailored to meet peoples’ needs at their particular stage in life. Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) SHIP continues, in an efficient and effective manner, to deliver good quality accommodation for those in housing need. Funding is provided to AHBs to deliver suitable social rental accommodation under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) to those with specific housing needs, such as persons with a disability, the elderly and homeless persons. A national improvement works programme in respect of the local authority housing stock and a programme of physical, social and economic regeneration for run down local authority estates and city flat complexes is also implemented under SHIP. In addition, a programme of private housing grants and supports continues to improve the living conditions of those living in their
Dept-of-Environment-Annual-Report.docx