Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 1099: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has plans to review the operations of An Bord Pleanála. [1799/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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An Bord Pleanála has a key role as an independent planning appeals body in ensuring that physical development and major infrastructure projects respect the principles of sustainable development and are planned in an efficient, fair and open manner. The assumption of significant new functions under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 necessitated a review of the Board's operations and significant restructuring leading to the establishment of a dedicated Strategic Infrastructure Division within the organisation. In light of these additional functions and the demands arising from sustained record levels of appeals over recent years, sanction was given in 2007 for an additional 35.5 permanent staff, bring the total complement to 172. Board membership has also been increased from 10 to 11, on a temporary basis.

The Board is focused on dealing quickly with the current backlog of cases and restoring compliance with its statutory objective of determining appeals and referrals within a period of 18 weeks, and expects to make significant progress in this regard over 2009. I am considering legislative change, in the context of the proposed Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, to facilitate greater overall efficiency in the determination of cases by the Board. In common with Government Departments and all other State bodies, the Board is reviewing its operations in the context of the ongoing work of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes.