Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As a Taoiseach is aware, delays in planning are causing huge problems for individuals and businesses. This is particularly acute with An Bord Pleanála where many of the appeals, I would say the majority, are not dealt with within anything like the four-month statutory target. It can take over a year to get permission for leave to seek substitute consent, for example. When one finally gets the leave, if one does get the leave, to apply for substitute consent it can take two or three years to get the substitute consent. This is utterly farcical given that many of these cases are very simple. I know of a case going on for years that relates to one house and has no effect on the environment. The house has been built. When will the planning and development (judicial review) Bill and the planning development Bill come before the Dáil? Both are on the list for publication. In the meantime, will extra staff be provided to An Bord Pleanála to allow it to make decision in an appropriate and speedy manner?

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