I am very concious of the need to ensure that there are no avoidable delays in the processing of appeals. My Department monitors the performance of An Bord Pleanála on an ongoing basis in relation to the number of appeals received, appeals disposed of and the time taken to process appeals.
In response to a request from me, the board undertook a review of procedures in mid-1988 and have indicated to me that they have tightened up their procedures in relation to time limits imposed on the various parties to an appeal to submit grounds for appeal and other documentation. Other steps taken include time effective measures on appeals against conditions in accordance with section 19 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1983, and against vexatious appeals. Time targets set at my request by the board in 1988 to reduce a backlog from 1987 have been met. In this regard comparison between the figures for 1987 and 1988 are significant. The overall volume of appeals received in 1988 at 2,257 was somewhat less than the 1987 figure of 2,439, while at the same time the actual number of appeals disposed of by the board in 1988 was higher at 2,369 than the 1987 figure of 2,237.
I am having a general review of all planning regulations carried out by my Department and I will, upon making consolidated regulations later this year, take the opportunity to further streamline procedures to further improve the operation of the planning system.
