Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022
302. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and which of the 101 recommendations for the reform of An Bord Pleanála from the 2016 review that have now been fully implemented; the status of the remainder; the timescale for the full implementation of the recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5997/22]
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 my Department and An Bord Pleanála (the Board), 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. The Board, supported by my Department, as required, took the lead in the implementation of a large number of the key recommendations, with my 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 legislsation.
An update on the implementation status of each of the 101 recommendations contained in the report is attached in tabular form.
