Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the findings of a recent report by An Bord Pleanála in which the board's concerns regarding the increased instances of unauthorised developments were highlighted, he will allocate further and dedicated resources to local authorities for the improved staffing of the planning enforcement sections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36696/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 648 of 15 November 2005. In addition to the strengthened and simplified enforcement regime introduced by the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Government has increased the resources available to planning authorities to carry out all their planning functions, including enforcement. Planning authorities' staffing levels increased by over 40% in the years between 2000 and 2004, from 1,328 to nearly 1,900 full-time and part-time staff. Planning authorities are now also entitled by virtue of the 2000 Act, to require any person served with an enforcement notice to refund to them, the costs and expenses incurred in investigating the infringement and issuing the enforcement notice. Any fine for an infringement imposed by a court for a planning infringement must also be paid directly to the authority.

While recent indicators, including the performance indicators published earlier this year, suggest an improved performance by planning authorities in relation to enforcement, I will continue to keep the implementation of the enforcement provisions of the 2000 Act under review. The recently published draft guidelines to planning authorities on development management also contain substantial advice to planning authorities on enforcement.