Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2021
74. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the implementation of each of the 101 recommendations of the 2016 Report Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála in tabular form. [57726/21]
View answerAn Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála was undertaken by an independent expert panel and published in March 2016. An Implementation Group, comprising representation from the Department and An Bord Pleanála, was established to oversee the implementation of the Review recommendations.
The Review contains 101 recommendations relating to legislative provisions, communications and stakeholder engagement, the Board's role and governance along with organisational and operational matters.
The Implementation Group published its Terms of Reference and Plan for Implementation in 2016. An Bord Pleanála, supported by the Department, as required, took the lead in the implementation of a large number of the key recommendations, with the Department taking the lead in examining recommendations requiring legislative underpinning.
“Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland” sets out a number of objectives with the aim of improving the functioning of the planning system including the comprehensive review and consolidation of planning legislation. This review is being led by the Attorney General and he has established a working group of professionals with planning law expertise to assist him in this work. The review is due to be finalised by September 2022 to allow updated legislation to be enacted by December 2022. As such, recommendations of the Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála requiring legislative underpinning will be considered in the context of the ongoing review of planning legislation.
As requested, an update on the implementation status of each of the 101 recommendations contained in the report is attached in tabular form.
Status of the recommendations of the 2016 Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála
|
Status |
Explanation |
|
Complete |
Recommendation addressed, no further action necessary |
|
Ongoing |
Recommendation in train or yet to be decided upon |
|
TBD |
To be determined in a review of legislation |
The Government has an extensive planning legislative agenda, which currently includes a number of planning and development bills, and the opportunity to take on board any legislative changes suggested in the Review is being considered in that context. The updating of legislation and guidelines remains an ongoing process and as specific matters arise, clarifications are issued to Planning Authorities via Circulars.
