Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 February 2023
243. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the resources that will be allocated to An Coimisiún Pleanála to be constituted under the Planning and Development Bill 2022; whether additional resources will be allocated to address the backlog of cases currently before An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7980/23]
View answerAn 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.
In 2021, An Bord Pleanála sought and received sanction for an additional 24 staff. In November 2022, following an updated assessment by the Board of resourcing needs likely to emerge as a result of planning applications for the National Development Plan and other infrastructure projects, new marine functions, as well as a number of senior positions approved under the Action Plan for An Bord Pleanála, and in accordance with the 2022-2023 Workforce Plan, the Board sought sanction for 34 additional posts. The Department provided sanction for these additional 34 posts in December 2022 and An Bord Pleanála is in the process of filling these positions. An Bord Pleanála has indicated that they will be making an additional request to the Department of Housing to sanction further staffing posts in the near future.
An Bord Pleanála have received an exchequer allocation of €26.9 million for 2023, which is an increase of €4.7million on the 2022 allocation.
In December 2022, new legislation was passed to move from the previous process of nominating bodies recommending board members, to a new open recruitment system based on transparent and objective criteria. The recent legislation also provided for an increase in the maximum number of board members from 10 to 15. Arrangements are being put in place for the new recruitment process for full-term board members, and in the interim temporary board members are currently being appointed.
Three temporary ordinary board members were appointed to the Board of An Bord Pleanála in early January 2023. A temporary appointment of Ordinary Board members from inspectorate staff of An Bord Pleanála has just been completed and two further appointments will be made shortly.
A competition for further temporary appointments from the civil and public service for a period of up to a year was commenced on 10th February 2023, with applications requested within two weeks.
In addition, a competition for the appointment of one board member (for a term of 5 years) with marine & environment experience has recently concluded and a further Board appointment is about to be made. This competition is being managed by the Public Appointments Service and will bring the number of new appointments to the Board since January to 6.
The draft Planning and Development Bill 2023 outlines the proposed new structure for An Bord Pleanála, which will be renamed as An Coimisiún Pleanála. The new Bill contains a number of provisions reflecting this new organisational structure and will clearly outline the role of –- Planning Commissioners – who will be responsible for all decision making regarding consents and applications made to it under the new Bill.- The Governing Body - which will be responsible for the governance and organisation of the body. There will be a Chief Executive responsible for the strategic management of the organisation.
