Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2014
377. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the signs of recovery of the building industry, his views that An Bord Pleanála board has a sufficient range of in-house expertise to deal with the anticipated extra workload; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26810/14]
View answerAppointments to the Board of An Bord Pleanála are governed by sections 105 to 107 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2013 and articles 56 to 65 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. The appointment process provides that appointments are made by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government from nominees put forward by four representative panels of nominating bodies prescribed for this purpose.
The bodies which comprise these nominating panels are set out in article 64 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. These bodies represent a wide range of interests so that potential appointees are drawn from a balanced group of individuals, with diverse backgrounds, who can reach a considered view on the issues with which the Board is concerned. When any vacancies arise on the Board, each body in the concerned nominating panel is invited to nominate two candidates for consideration for appointment to the Board. In relation to the position of Chairperson, the appointment is made by Government from candidates selected by an independent statutory selection committee.
Two new Board Members were appointed to the Board in May 2014, while another serving Board Member was re-appointed in December 2013. This brought the total number of Board Members to nine (including the Chair), out of a maximum allowable number of ten.
