Mr. Peter Mullan:

No, you are absolutely right in relation to it, a Chathaoirligh, the point being that we developed a very significant caseload. It needs to be seen in the context of 2022 and 2023. There was a very significant backlog which did not allow us to meet the statutory objective periods in the vast majority of our caseload during that period. The case category we made an exemption to was the LRD caseload because we would have faced a financial penalty. We have met those in 100% of cases. I am very happy to talk about how we are transitioning in relation to it. It is in the paperwork that we have supplied to the committee.

Our SOP compliance for this year has gone from lows of 28% in 2023 and 25% in 2024 to 50% in the year to date. Month to date we are at 62%. We are confident we will reach 85% to 90% as the year comes to a close. We have done enormous work with our colleagues in relation to this.

Regarding the name change from An Bord Pleanála to An Coimisiún Pleanála, that was not a decision by ourselves to rebrand the organisation and spend the €76,000, which was reported in the media this morning. We released that figure to journalists last week. That was mandated. This is not a rebranding. This is a governance change that took place as a result of the Planning and Development Act. They renamed our organisation as a result of that. With our organisation being renamed, we were required to reflect that in the signage and in all of the documentation. We were also required to inform the public. The breakdown of the €76,000, includes architectural services for signage. This included liaising with Dublin City Council to see whether we were entitled to a notice of exemption development. We also had to engage with the LUAS operator as our office is located near the LUAS track. To put up the sign was complicated and there were health and safety issues related that. There was a radio campaign and we took out newspaper notices. We did all these things with cost of money considerations right throughout our organisation. Regarding the reference to reputational damage, we did not choose to change our name. That was a decision made by the Government and the Oireachtas. We have accepted that. It was well recorded that there was some unhappiness among staff at the time in relation to the name change. It has now been accepted and embraced. We as an organisation changed our name on 18 June and we were proud to become An Coimisiún Pleanála. There were one or two questions related to legal numbers that my colleague, Mr. Baneham, will discuss.