Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I understand that approach. People who work in local authorities will often tell you that because the court cases can be so complex and costly, there can be a reluctance to even take them or go down that route. This applies to everything around planning enforcement. If there was some national resource to be able to help them with that, like there is with the Food Safety Authority, which does that with more complex cases when it steps in and helps locally. I am not arguing for it to be taken away from local authorities and for it not to be done at a local level but we should see how that can be supported and beefed up properly.

My second question touches on a point that also been made already. On the appointments to An Bord Pleanála and the review of same, is it possible that a hybrid system would be looked at? Is that under consideration? Under that system some appointments would come from nominated bodies. If that is under consideration could that be done through the Public Appointments Service, PAS? When does the Department expect to have conclusions on this?