John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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120. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of planning applications that are referred to An Bord Pleanála, that are subsequently approved; to provide a breakdown of these figures for each of the midlands counties of Westmeath, Offaly and Laois for each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34795/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) replaced An Bord Pleanála on 18 June 2025 as 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 2024, and certain other Acts.

ACP has been working to address the backlog of cases currently awaiting a decision, more quickly than before. Progress on addressing this backlog is reported to the Department on a monthly basis. ACP have advised that the total number of cases on hand on 30 April was 1,364, down from 2,141 on the equivalent date in 2024, a reduction of 36.3% in one year. As recently as May 2023, the number of cases on hand was 3,616 (down 60%).

The Department does not hold the specific information in relation to planning applications as requested. In light of this 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 ACP in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie