Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 392: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the level of reduction in staff numbers that has taken place in the various county councils who are dealing with planning applications in view of the decline in planning applications to county councils all over the country; if a serious reduction has not taken place, the reason it is still taking eight weeks for a decision in relation to applications when a decision can be given any time after five weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38207/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Planning authorities received 33,355 applications in the first half of 2008, a decrease of 34.6% on the same period in 2007. Planning authorities made 32,342 decisions in the first half of 2008, a decrease of 31% on the same period in 2007. Of the decisions made in the first half of 2008, 59.9% were made within 8 weeks as compared with 59.1% in the same period in 2007. Some 18,411 of theses applications were received in the second quarter of 2008, an increase of 23.2% on the first quarter. Planning authorities made almost 17,000 decisions in the second quarter of 2008, an increase of 10.6% on the first quarter. Of the decisions made in the second quarter of 2008 64.3% were made within 8 weeks as compared to 55.1% in the first quarter.

In regards to the staffing requirements in each Local Authority, it is the responsibility of each county and city manager, under the Local Government Act 2001, to employ such staff and to make such staffing and organisational arrangements as may be deemed necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is the manager. Overall staffing levels in the local government sector are subject to current Government policy on the control of staffing numbers.