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

We can extend it past the date, should we wish. In the intervening period, I expect all permanent board members to be appointed at that stage. This is a transition period. The board is working through parallel meetings at the moment to deal with the backlog. There is a focus on residential development. An Bord Pleanála worked over a number of weeks in the summer to specifically look at backlog cases for individual houses or extensions to clear them, because right now everything is taken in chronological order. It is a great frustration to people who know that an inspector's report is being done and who have been informed by the board but then there is a delay, which is an inordinate delay in some cases, in the decision being made. Thankfully, we have seen some very large and significant decisions being made by An Bord Pleanála in recent months. It is getting to grips with the backlog on hand. An Bord Pleanála aimed to get back to normal business by the end of quarter 2. It has not met that deadline as of yet, but it is working through it. We have resourced An Bord Pleanála with more than 50% additional staff members since 2021. More work is to be done there, but it is making progress.

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