Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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800. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government about the workforce plan for An Bord Pleanála; the full year cost to employ one FTE per staffing level; the number of staff with environmental planning expertise employed in An Bord Pleanála and the full year cost to employ per FTE; the number of staff with biodiversity expertise employed in An Bord Pleanála and the full year cost to employ per FTE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1123/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.

There are now more people working at the Board than at any time previously. Since October 2021, my Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in the Board. The Board has advised that as of 31 December 2023 there were 254 individuals working in the Board including Board Members. The Board received approval and sanction from my Department for a total of 313 posts for 2023.

Details of staffing are an operational matter for the Board. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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801. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the workforce plan for MARA; the full year cost to employ one FTE per staffing level; the number of staff with environmental planning expertise employed in MARA the full year cost to employ per FTE; the number of staff with biodiversity expertise employed in MARA and the full year cost to employ per FTE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1124/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) was formally established on 17 July 2023. MARA is an independent body with responsibility for the performance of the functions statutorily assigned to it.

Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. MARA can be contacted at oireachtas@mara.gov.ie