Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2021
269. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of judicial reviews of An Bord Pleanála decisions in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of decisions that have been upheld; the number of decisions that were set aside in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55512/21]
View answer270. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of judicial reviews of An Bord Pleanála decisions that have been taken by State bodies in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55513/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together.
The recording of court cases is one in which I have no statutory function and is a matter for the Courts Service which is statutorily independent. Judicial reviews against the State, in which my Department may be included as a party, are co-ordinated by the Chief State Solicitors Office under the guidance of the Attorney General's Office.
Under section 30 of the Act, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
An Bord Pleanála can be challenged by judicial review on a range of its functions, including decisions on planning applications in respect of strategic housing developments, and it publishes an update on legal cases in its Annual Report.
Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
