Written answers

Thursday, 23 November 2006

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Planning Issues

5:00 pm

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 277: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the number of planning enforcement officials that have been employed by local authorities each year since 1995; if so, the numbers of same; if instruction has been given to local authorities setting out the minimum level of staffing provision for the planning enforcement function, and the planning function generally; if his Department has a function in determining the number of planning officials, including planning enforcement officials employed in local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39766/06]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

According to returns supplied to my Department for the Annual Planning Statistics 2005 275 staff were engaged in planning enforcement in planning authorities in 2005. The figures collected for the annual planning statistics prior to 2005 do not distinguish the staff engaged in planning enforcement and other activities such as development management and forward planning.

The Draft Development Management Guidelines, which will be finalised and published in the coming months, advise local authorities that adequate staff, financial and other resources should be allocated to ensuring that compliance with the development plan and planning conditions are given the importance that they deserve. It is a matter for the manager of each local authority, under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, to make such staffing and organisational arrangements as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he/she is responsible, subject to overall Government policy on the control and regulation of numbers in the public sector, including local authorities, announced in the Minister for Finance's Budget statement of 7 December 2005. I am continuing to keep the overall employment position in the sector under regular review, having regard to the need to deliver quality front line services and achieve value for money within the parameters of Government policy on public service employment generally.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.