Burke could be on the move in ministerial reshuffle

Minister of State Peter Burke could be handed a new portfolio in today's reshuffle.

It's being widely reported in the national media that after impressing in his role as Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning over the past two and half years, the Mullingar native will be moved to the Finance Department.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Minister Burke said his role in Custom House on the banks of the Liffey, which houses the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has been challenging, but it is a challenge he has relished.

"It’s been a very challenging role. I’m really proud to have got my Maternity Leave Bill through for female councillors, which will do a lot to get more women into politics.

“And obviously our Planning Reform and our Towns First programmes - there’s been a lot of good work done there, but I’m really in the dark over the next few hours," he admitted. “I’m happy to serve wherever I’m requested to, it’s a waiting game."

With a budget of €4.5 billion to deliver annually, Minister Burke said there was a lot still to do in housing.

“It’s such an urgent piece of society being blocked (from home ownership) - people can’t go on and live their lives and aspire to have home ownership when supply is so constrained, so there is a huge amount of work to do.

"There was over 28,000 houses built nationally this year, hopefully we’ll get over 33,000 houses next year, and we need to be well up towards the 40,000 mark to solve the problem. So we’ve a fair bit to go yet," he stated.

Speculating on a finance role, Burke said:

“Finance is my background and look it would be an honour to be junior finance minister, I know it’s a huge role as well, but there are many other roles also, so I don’t want to speculate in one direction or another, or I could be dropped - God knows what will happen!

"We’ll do our best with whatever we are given, and I never take for granted the honour it is to serve Mullingar and Longford Westmeath," he concluded.

It is also being reported that Burke's Fine Gael colleague from the Meath West constituency, Damien English, will remain in his post as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.