Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the average length of time An Bord Pleanála has taken to issue decisions in respect of appeals lodged in 2006, 2007 and 2008; and the average length of time taken to issue decisions in respect of 2009 appeals. [25932/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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An Bord Pleanála has a statutory objective to determine appeals and referrals within 18 weeks. The information requested for the period 2006 to 2008 is set out in the following table:

Consideration of the performance of the Board must take account of the legacy of record levels of case intake over recent years and the assumption of significant new functions under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006. In light of the demands on the Board, sanction was given in 2007 for an additional 35.5 permanent staff, bringing the total complement to 172. Board membership was also increased from 10 to 11, on a temporary basis.

An estimated 4,500 cases are expected to be referred to the Board in 2009. So far in 2009, the Board has made significant progress in dealing with its caseload. At the end of May, the Board had determined over 2,345 cases. The 584 cases determined in February is the highest monthly output on record at the Board. The Board's case backlog has been reduced by 31% year on year to 2,009 cases. The Board expect to achieve a significant increase in the compliance with the 18 week statutory objective target in the second half of the year. The average number of weeks taken to dispose of cases up to May 2009 was 23 weeks.

I have also provided, in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009, for a reduction in the Board's required quorum of three members to two, for the purpose of determining certain classes of routine cases.