Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 513: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the membership of An Bord Pleanála; the method of appointment of persons to the board; the competencies required of each member; if he has any intentions to reform the structures and processes of the organisation during his tenure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40831/11]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The current membership of the board is presented in the table. The procedures for the appointment by the Minister of ordinary members of An Bord Pleanála are set out in sections 104–106 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000–2010. Nominating bodies that are specified in the associated Planning and Development Regulations are requested to make nominations which form panels from which the appointments are made. My Department is presently engaged in this statutory process to permit me to renew the board by making appointments to a number of vacancies which have recently arisen.

The Board is not intended to be an expert body as such (it has experts to advise it) but should be a balanced group of people with diverse backgrounds who can reach a considered view on issues. I am satisfied that the current nomination and appointment processes are fair and transparent. There are no proposals to change the nominating procedure.