Olivia Mitchell
Question:474 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he plans to ensure monitoring of the planning control system which was previously carried out by the environmental research unit. [25921/01]
Written Answers. - Planning Regulations.
My Department carries out extensive monitoring of the planning system. Statistics in this regard are published annually by my Department and are available in the Oireachtas Library for the years up to 1999. Summary statistics are similarly published on a quarterly basis.
For the past number of years, the major priority has been to complete a comprehensive review of planning legislation. This has resulted in the enactment of the Planning and Development Act, 2000. Draft regulations have been prepared by my Department and are currently being considered by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government to ensure the full implementation of the development control provisions of the Act. The final stage of the review process, following the making of the regulations, will then be to put in place procedures for the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the performance of local planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála to ensure a high quality service.
As a tool for improving standards of service in local authorities, a subgroup of county and city managers, with representatives of my Department, developed a set of 21 indicators across eight local authority service functions, including planning. The indicators issued under circular to all local authority managers on 26 May 2000, requiring local authorities to commence the measurement process and to report on their performance in their annual reports, commencing with the 2000 reports. In relation to planning, the service indicators specified were: the number of applications determined; the percentage of applications determined within eight weeks; the average time taken to determine an application; the percentages of grants, refusals and appeals; and the results of appeals, that is, the percentage which uphold and the percentage which reverse the planning authority's decision.
It is intended that these service indicators will be used as a basis for the development of performance standards. Using the levels of performance on the specified service indicators over the first year, standards can then be set for delivery of improved performance over the following year.
Local authority planning services are also being targeted for eGovernment initiatives; work in this regard in proceeding under the co-ordination of the Local Government Computer Services Board.