Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to conclude on the delays associated with An Bord Pleanála. The statutory time limit for dealing with applications should be 18 weeks. Many applications are not being turned around in that time, however, which is causing serious delays for builders who want to get started on houses. This, in turn, has cost implications. If a start date is postponed, there are penalties. The Government needs to ensure more resources are given to An Bord Pleanála. One of the little clicks in the chain of the housing issue in Dublin is that the Government just not seem to grasp this. There needs to be a varied, wide-ranging approach to this issue. Addressing the performance of An Bord Pleanála is one aspect.