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 30 April 2024 there were 265 individuals working in the Board, across all roles, including Board Members. The Board received approval and sanction from my Department for a total of 313 posts to date.

The Board has advised that the number of professional planners at various grades currently employed by the Board has increased from 72 to 92 since year end 2022. The Board has sanction from my Department to employ a further 30 planning staff, with competitions to fill these posts currently ongoing.

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.