Written answers
Thursday, 8 November 2018
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
An Bord Pleanála Data
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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305. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of staff in An Bord Pleanála in each of the years 2008 to 2017, inclusive, and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46404/18]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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306. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the budget of An Bord Pleanála in each of the years 2008 to 2018, inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46405/18]
Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together.
My Department engages with An Bord Pleanála on an ongoing basis to ensure that it has the appropriate resources to perform its broad range of functions. The Board currently has a complement of 11 members and has over 150 other staff employed.
Section 116 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides for the payment to the Board in each financial year of a grant of such amount as the Minister may fix, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The grant goes towards financing the administration and general expenses of the Board.
While the grant-aid funding provides for the majority of the Board’s annual income, the Board also generates income from fees charged. Section 144 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides for the determination of fees payable to the Board, subject to the approval of the Minister. In the main, these fees are payable to the Board by parties in respect of Strategic Infrastructure and Strategic Housing Development applications, appeals, referrals, oral hearing requests and certain other matters which are submitted for determination by the Board under the Planning and Development, Water Pollution and Building Control Acts.
The following table sets out the number of whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff employed by An Bord Pleanála on 31 December for the years 2008 to 2017 and at 31 October 2018, in addition to the operating budget for the Board over the same period. The 2018 grant aid figure represents the amount provided in the 2018 Revised Estimates for Public Services. Through ongoing and planned recruitment processes, the Board's staff complement is expected to increase further in 2019.
| Years | Staffing* (WTE) | Grant aid | Miscellaneous Income (including income from fees) | Total Operating Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €m | €m | €m | ||
| 2008 | 179.50 | 15.098 | 6.250 | 21.348 |
| 2009 | 167.50 | 15.331 | 4.406 | 19.737 |
| 2010 | 163.00 | 13.565 | 3.307 | 16.872 |
| 2011 | 158.10 | 13.724 | 3.446 | 17.170 |
| 2012 | 145.80 | 12.897 | 2.485 | 15.382 |
| 2013 | 144.10 | 11.793 | 2.658 | 14.451 |
| 2014 | 142.40 | 12.138 | 2.620 | 14.758 |
| 2015 | 138.40 | 14.886 | 2.579 | 17.465 |
| 2016 | 142.10 | 14.405 | 2.987 | 17.392 |
| 2017 | 156.10 | 17.100 | 3.026 | 20.126 |
| 2018 | 159.9** | 17.244 | 4.583 | 21.827 |
*Staffing figures are inclusive of Board members
**WTE staffing as of 31 October 2018
This information, and other related statistics, are available in An Bord Pleanála's Annual Reports, which can be accessed on the following link: .
I am satisfied that the Board has the necessary resources to deliver effectively and efficiently on its important statutory mandate and functions.
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