Vol. 515 No. 3
64 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proportion of planning appeals determined by An Bord Pleanála within the statutorily prescribed period during the course of 1999; and the way in which it com pared with the corresponding proportion in each of the years from 1996 to 1998. [5761/00]
Section 2(2) of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1992 sets an objective for the board of determining every appeal or other matter within a period of four months. Reflecting the growth in the economy generally, there has been a major escalation in the number of appeals coming before the board since mid-1995. The number of cases received by the board was 4,708 in 1999; this compares to 3,424 in 1996.
In 1999, 47% of cases were determined within four months. This compared to 63% in 1998, 82% in 1997, and 93% in 1996. The number of cases disposed of by the board in 1999 was 4,632, the highest in any year and an increase of 14% on 1998. It is of significance that the deteriorating trend in the percentage of appeals decided within the four month objective was reversed during 1999; the percentage of cases determined within four months increased from 42% in the April-June 1999 quarter to 52% in the October-December 1999 quarter. I am continuing to monitor, in conjunction with the board, the situation to see what further measures, additional to those I have already taken to enhance the board's performance, may need to be put in place to expedite the processing of appeals and clear the backlog which has built up.
