Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 January 2013
178. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to review the operation of An Bord Pleanála; if he considers that there is a need for greater transparency in relation to the composition of the board and the decision making process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3287/13]
View answerThe Board of an Bord Pleanála comprises a Chairperson and up to 9 ordinary members. The appointment process, set out under sections 105 -107 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012 and Articles 56 – 65 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, require selections to be made by the Minister from nominees put forward by four representative panels of nominating bodies prescribed for this purpose.
Appointees to the Board do not represent their nominating body but are appointed to provide, as a function of the Board, independent consideration of planning authorities’ decisions submitted to the Board on appeal and applications required to be submitted directly to the Board. I am satisfied that the current nomination and appointment processes are fair and transparent. Furthermore, as the legislative provisions underpinning these processes have only recently been endorsed by the Oireachtas, I have no proposals to make any further amendments at this time.
