Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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717. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the total of new positions sanctioned by An Bord Pleanála in the past six months; the positions granted; the cost implications of each position; and the number of positions that have been filled to date. [46418/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, 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.

Recruitment of all staff is a matter for the Board. However, the workforce plan of the Board is subject to approval by my Department.

There are now more people working at the Board than at any time previously. Since October 2021, my Department has sanctioned 117 new staffing posts in the Board. The Board has advised that as of 31 December 2024 there were 285 individuals working in the Board including Board Members.

In the six month period between 1 July and 31 December 2024 no new positions were sanctioned 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 Oíreachtas. 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.