Written answers
Tuesday, 16 April 2024
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Planning Issues
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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391. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the proportion of planning applications which are decided by An Bord Pleanála within eight weeks in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to-date in 2024; the proportion of planning applications which were decided by An Bord Pleanála within sixteen weeks in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to-date in 2024; and the proportion of planning applications which were decided by An Bord Pleanála in a period exceeding sixteen weeks in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to-date in 2024. [16161/24]
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.
The information requested is not held by my Department as timelines on decision making is a matter for An Bord Pleanála.
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.
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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392. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if An Bord Pleanála has requested additional resources for staffing in the past 12 months; and, if so, the roles for which additional funds were sought. [16162/24]
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, including the approval and sanctioning of 59 new posts in April 2023. The Board has advised that as of 31 March 2024 there were 262 individuals working in the Board including Board Members. The Board received approval and sanction from my Department for a total of 313 posts to date. A increase in budget of €5million over 2023 has been made available to the Board for 2024 to enable sanctioned staffing levels to increase to more than 300 people and 15 decision-making board members to be maintained.
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.
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