Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators for their contributions. It is important to ensure the public has confidence in the integrity and consistency of An Bord Pleanála. Under this Bill and, in particular, the new planning and development Bill we will bring forward next year, we are implementing significant reform of the board. This is being done in response to the first report of the Office of the Planning Regulator. We await its second report, the recommendations of which we hope to encompass in the new Bill. That legislation will be significant and important in ensuring the board operates correctly. We are all aware of the challenge in terms of the backlog and the need to get housing units built for our citizens. Key to this is ensuring that the board is operating correctly.

Senators raised a number of points. The meeting quorum of two is being increased to three, which is an important change to ensure good practice. A number of reviews and reports have been carried out. I will not comment on some of the statements made in that regard because there is an investigation ongoing, which I do not wish to prejudice.