Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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446. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of offshore renewable energy applications to An Bord Pleanála that have been met within the 18-week decision timeframe; the reason the timeframe was not met for the remaining projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35336/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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447. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is satisfied that sufficient resources are in place at An Bord Pleanála to determine the outcome of offshore renewable energy applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35337/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 446 and 447 together.

An Coimisiún Pleanála 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 Planning and Development Act 2024, includes a number of new provisions relating to An Coimisiún Pleanála, as part of a significant restructure. Part 4 of the Act will introduce statutory time periods for decision making for all consent processes, including, for the first time, for An Coimisiún Pleanála, when Part 4 is commenced later this year. This will bring increased certainty to the planning consent processes, for both the public and stakeholders involved in the delivery of key infrastructure such as housing and renewable energy.

Ahead of the commencement of Part 4, An Coimisiún Pleanála is working to the statutory timelines to ensure that these projects are considered and disposed of within the timeframe. So far this year six offshore renewable energy applications have been received, five are under current consideration and one has been determined within the 18 week decision timeframe.

For Coimisiún processes, timelines are being introduced for appeals as well as the various consents applications made directly to the Coimisiún.

It is important to acknowledge that a certain percentage of cases, due to particular circumstances, such as complexity, requests for further information from applicants for permission or further submissions from other participants including third parties, will not meet the 18 week target.

An Coimisiún 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 my Department on a monthly basis. The total number of cases on hand on 31 May was 1,352, down from 2,058 on the equivalent date in 2024, a reduction of 34% in one year. As recently as May 2023, the number of cases on hand was 3,616 (down 60%). This increased workload has been enabled by significant additional resources. Since October 2021, my Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in An Coimisiúin.

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 Coimisiún Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie