asked the Minister for Local Government the average time taken by him in deciding planning appeals affecting property in County Wicklow.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wicklow Planning Appeals.
28.
On the basis of appeals decided during the year ended 30th April, 1968, the overall average period between the receipt of planning appeals relating to County Wicklow and the issue of a decision was approximately eight months. Of the cases involved about 50 per cent were decided within 24 weeks of lodgment, including about 30 per cent decided within 16 weeks.
In many cases delay was attributable to failure on the part of appellants to submit promptly information or comments requested by the Department.
Can the Minister explain how it is that an appeal which was lodged with his Department about 18 months ago and which his Department said last November was receiving expeditious attention and would soon be decided has not yet been decided? Having regard to the fact that a considerable amount of money from a would-be purchaser is tied up in the case in question, would the Minister see to it that a decision is given without further procrastination?
As I say, in a lot of these cases the delay is due to failure on the part of appellants to submit information or comments requested by the Department.
Is the Minister aware that since last November his Department has issued no request to the appellant for any information; that since last November the Department has received five letters of appeal for a decision and that, apart from indecipherable acknowledgments on insulting pieces of paper, no indication of life in the Department has been furnished to this applicant?
The Deputy did not ask me about a particular case. He asked me about the average time taken in deciding planning appeals affecting property in County Wicklow.
Now I am asking the Minister can he say why it is that in one case it has taken 18 months and no decision has yet been given although eight months ago we were told that the matter was receiving expeditious attention?
It would be necessary to identify the particular case.
I will do that for the Minister.