Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the vacant positions on An Bord Pleanála will be filled; when a qualified architect will be appointed to the board in view of the necessity to have architectural and urban design expertise on the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1677/12]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will appoint an architect to the board of An Bord Pleanála in view of the fact that there is no one with architectural, urban design or conservation expertise currently sitting on the board that deals with planning appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1751/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 188 together.

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 nominate persons. The persons appointed by the Minister are from panels formed from these nominations. 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.

The statutory process of filling a number of the current vacancies on the Board is now underway and the first of the new appointments will be made in the coming weeks. Cognisance will be given when appointing new board members to the balance of skill sets and expertise required at Board level for the effective discharge of An Bord Pleanala's complex and wide ranging functions.