Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister inherited a difficult and challenging situation in An Bord Pleanála. Resources have been allocated to increase staffing, to the order of 60% of an increase. The challenge when one wishes to rapidly increase human resource capacity is to recruit at the right pace and with the right quality. In the planning area, like everywhere else and every other sector, there is a considerable premium on people. Different organisations are looking for the key expertise. However, no one disagrees there has been a significant strengthening of An Bord Pleanála with regard to human capital and resource. That will continue and while I have no doubt that the leadership of An Bord Pleanála will present its case again to the Minister, I hear what the Deputy is saying. Government is absolutely full-on in this, to try to get infrastructure and develop housing and wind energy. We are conscious of the role of planning and that is why there will be a new environmental planning court established as well.

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