Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support calls from the Leader of the Opposition for a debate on the future of An Bord Pleanála. There has been no alteration to An Bord Pleanála's terms and conditions in a very long time. The organisation does quite good work but it could be managed a lot better. The time allowed for appeals to the board is extended on a regular basis and this is very unprofessional in my view. There should be a set time period and An Bord Pleanála should stick to it. Similarly, it would be appropriate that a time moratorium be imposed on senior officials from An Bord Pleanála to prevent them engaging as planning consultants and making submissions to the board. It is inappropriate that highly-placed senior officials and board members, when they leave, can within a reasonably short period of time, engage in advising and preparing submissions to the board. They have a distinct advantage, because of their former association with the board, in procuring and securing work. We need to re-examine the code of ethics surrounding An Bord Pleanála. A debate in the House in the first instance would be appropriate as would new legislation, if necessary. The current planning environment is completely different to what it was five to ten years ago. The board of final appeal needs to be straightened out and brought up to public expectations.

An Bord Pleanála has carried out oral hearings about an application by Clare County Council to build a new pier at Doolin in north Clare. I call on the board to expedite its decision because the people in north Clare and the Aran Islands need the connectivity between those two locations as a matter of urgency. The Department has provided the funding but the whole project has been delayed unnecessarily in my view.