Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 579: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Strategic Infrastructure Act's implementation is being delayed by human resource issues in An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13997/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The remaining provisions of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006, came into force on the 31st of January 2007, providing for the introduction of a single consent process for certain strategic infrastructural projects of national importance.

The Act also provided for a range of supporting measures, including the restructuring of An Bord Pleanála to allow for the establishment of a Strategic Infrastructure Division. The Board is now being given greater flexibility to handle infrastructure consent applications, including the possibility for pre-application discussions with the applicant.

While the processing of individual cases under these new provisions is a matter for An Bord Pleanala, my Department understands that the new procedures are already being deployed by the Board and that implementation is proceeding normally.

There are ongoing human resources issues within the Board, including those related to the introduction of the Strategic Infrastructure Act; these are being dealt with within the normal structures.