Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 4

Written Answers. - Planning Appeals.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

21 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals, if any, submitted to him or approved by him for additional resources for An Bord Pleanála; the reason the time taken to process planning appeals has continued to lengthen; the action, if any, he will take to ensure that planning appeals are decided within the normal four month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6152/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The steep increase in the number of appeals coming before An Bord Pleanála is continuing, reflecting the high growth rate in the national economy. The intake of cases in 1998 was 16 per cent up on 1997. It is projected that the total number of cases received in 1999 will reach 5,230, which would represent a doubling of the annual average intake in the ten year period to 1995. The average time taken to dispose of cases in 1998 was 18 weeks and compliance with the four month objective was 63 per cent.

I approved all the requests for additional personnel and other resources made by the board in 1998. These included increasing the number of board members by 50 per cent, from six to nine, and approving an additional eight heads of staff. Approved staffing in the board has increased from 71 in mid-1997 to 93 at end-1998. The board is currently attempting to fill the outstanding vacancies but has been experiencing difficulty in recruiting planners. Although it will be into this year before the board has the full benefit of the extra board members and additional staff approved, the increase in the average time and the decline in meeting the four month objective is a cause of concern to me, particularly in the context of the need to increase housing supply as quickly as possible.

I am actively reviewing, in conjunction with the board, the situation to see what additional staffing and other measures need to be put in place to expedite the processing of appeals and clear off the backlog that has built up. I expect when current consultations with the Department of Finance are completed to announce a series of measures to deal further with the problem. The board is also reviewing its work practices to ensure that due priority is given to large scale housing schemes.