Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I imagine we all agree that the compliance rates of 38% and 43.5% are particularly low and fall far below what is required. I welcome the additional resources allocated to the board, but the figures would be even lower if the requests for additional or further information in some way masked the figures of completion. Anecdotal evidence from throughout the country is that large schemes have been 18 months and longer with An Bord Pleanála while going through a series of requests for additional information. In some instances, that is perfectly correct but we have seen an increase in requests for further information. When does the Minister believe that we will be able to get back within the targets? Does the Minister have a target date to get back within the statutory timeframe for planning decisions? The Minister mentioned the 39 large housing developments that have been submitted directly to the board. He will be aware of the volume of work that goes into pre-planning for these applications and the discussions with the board in advance of the applications being lodged. Are we looking for An Bord Pleanála to do too much without sufficient resources? The figures certainly bear that out.

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