I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 569 together.
Under Section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, An Bord Pleanalá has a statutory objective to determine appeals within 18 weeks. Where the Board does not consider it possible or appropriate to reach a decision within 18 weeks (e.g. because of delays arising from the holding of an oral hearing), it will inform the parties of the reasons for this, and will indicate when it intends to make its decision.
The position in relation to appeals received by An Bord Pleanalá in the period since 2000 is set out in the following table.
|
Year
|
No. of Appeals Received
|
No. of Appeals Disposed of
|
Average Length of Time to Process Appeal (Weeks)
|
|
2008 (End May)
|
2,282
|
2,156
|
23.5
|
|
2007
|
6,664
|
6,163
|
19
|
|
2006
|
5,930
|
5,628
|
18
|
|
2005
|
5,946
|
5,387
|
15
|
|
2004
|
5,261
|
5,111
|
14
|
|
2003
|
4,743
|
4,743
|
16
|
|
2002
|
4,565
|
4,562
|
23
|
|
2001
|
5,422
|
5,105
|
25
|
|
2000
|
5,308
|
4,833
|
21
|
The performance of the Board must be viewed in the context of record levels of case intake over successive years 2004-2007 and the assumption, with effect from 31 January 2007, of significant new functions under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006.
The intake of new appeal cases in 2007 increased by over 12% compared to 2006. Notwithstanding a nearly 10% increase in cases determined, this resulted in a significant rise in the workload in hand at the end of the year, and a deterioration in performance in relation to the timeliness of decision making.
During 2007, the Board received 74 consultation requests and 33 planning applications regarding proposed strategic infrastructure in the transport, energy and environment areas.
In recognition of the key role the Board plays in relation to delivery of local and national infrastructure, the demands arising from sustained record levels of appeals over recent years and the implementation of the 2006 Act, sanction was given in 2007 for a considerable increase in the Board's staffing resources. The total authorized staff complement has increased by 26% to 172, while Board membership rose from 10 to 11 with the appointment of an additional temporary Board member.
The Board has expressed confidence that with a lower intake of cases this year, the increased resources made available and other measures to improve productivity, considerable progress will be made over 2008 towards achieving the strategic target of determining appeal cases within an 18-week period.
