Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
349. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if independent contractors are employed or have been employed by An Bord Pleanála as inspectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52208/21]
View answerSections 120 and 124 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) allows the Board to employ and engage persons, consultants and advisors in a part time capacity to be remunerated by fees, as it considers necessary for the performance of its functions.
The Board has used these provisions to:
- appoint Inspectors, Consultants and Specialist Consultants on a fee per case (FPC) basis and/or on a daily/hourly rate basis, both in the past and at present.
- tender for Planning Companies in the early 2000’s to act as part time Inspectors.
- appoint fee per Case (FPC) inspectors between 2000 and 2011. These qualified planners generally reported on smaller/less complex cases. FPC inspectors were last engaged in 2018 and there is currently no panel of FPC inspectors in place.
- appoint Fire Safety Consultants and Disability Access Consultants who assist with certain Building Control appeals (6 to date in 2021 ).
- engage Specialist Consultants when necessary for particular Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) and Local Authority Projects/SID cases as they arise (3 to date in 2021).
The Board is required, under Section 124(2) of the Planning & Development Act, 2000 (as amended), to include a statement on the names of the persons engaged under Section 124 as Consultants or Advisors in its Annual Report.
