Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 356: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to ensure that An Bord Pleanála can reduce the length of time it can take to reach decisions on planning appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8697/09]

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

As an independent planning appeals body, An Bord Pleanála has a key role in ensuring that physical developments, in particular major infrastructure projects, respect the principles of sustainable development and are planned in an efficient, fair and open manner.

Under Section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Board has a statutory objective to determine appeals within 18 weeks. Where the Board does not consider it possible or appropriate to reach a decision within 18 weeks (e.g. because of delays arising from the holding of an oral hearing), it will inform the parties of the reasons for this, and will indicate when it intends to make the decision.

Record levels of case intake over successive years, peaking at nearly 6,700 cases in 2007, have challenged An Bord Pleanála's ability to achieve this statutory objective. According to the Board's annual report for 2007, the 18-week statutory objective was met in 48% of all cases, compared to 52% in 2006.

The Board has also assumed significant new functions under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006. This 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 the demands imposed by its heavy caseload and these additional functions, sanction was given in 2007 for an additional 35.5 permanent staff, bringing 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 achieving 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 a number of initiatives aimed at helping the Board in this regard including legislative changes, in the context of the proposed Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, to facilitate greater overall efficiency in the determination of cases by the Board.