Ms Rachel Kenny:

I can check the exact statistics but, at present, there is a grant rate of approximately 70%. In the past 18 months, it has risen from 50% to 70%. Where there is a new process, that is a good level of improvement in 18 months. It is not to say we could not improve further; we most definitely could. We have said on numerous occasions, however, that this is about making sure we grant permission for the right developments in the right locations and listen to everybody, including the planners in the local authorities, the elected representatives and the public.

I was a planner in a local authority for 20 years prior to being on the board so I am aware of the importance of local planning, local democracy and subsidiarity.

Let me refer to the reason for the refusal rate. Under section 247, which relates to the planning authority, and in our own process, there should not be a rubber-stamping exercise. It is the wrong approach to rubber-stamp an application and indicate it will definitely be granted permission before the public has any chance to have an input. We should not be looking for a rate of 100%. The public should always feel it can influence the decision. In fairness to the board and the planning authorities, the public most definitely influences the decision on so many applications. It influences all of them. To certain extent-----