Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Noel Ahern

Question:

140 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the current policy with regard to staff numbers in local authorities and in particular to sections of local authorities such as planning departments which are under pressure to perform adequately due to staff vacancies and high level of development and planning applications; if he will (i) sanction extra personnel, (ii) approve all possible work being sub contracted out and (iii) underwrite additional costs in temporary contracts or consultancies brought in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13230/00]

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

It is a matter for the manager to ensure that staffing levels in the local authority are adequate to carry out the functions of the local authority.

I am well aware of the need to ensure that local authorities have sufficient staff to deal with their substantial work programmes and all requests for sanction to create additional posts are dealt with on this basis by my Department. In this context, I would point out that 138 additional technical planning posts alone have been sanctioned since July 1998.

My Department's sanction is not required for the engagement of consultants to carry out planning work and we have no information on the extent to which work is contracted out in this way. However, we are aware that many local authorities use consultants to prepare the draft development plans and local area plans.

The cost of operating the planning service is funded out of the local authorities' general funds and the fees received with applications for planning permissions. Planning fee income is continuing to rise as a result of the increase in fees granted in 1998 and from large increases in applications. Planning authorities have been advised to use this increase in income to fund additional staff.