Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2023
371. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of planning permissions awaiting decision by An Bord Pleanála, in quarterly date ranges from 2020 to date 2023; the expected timelines for decisions to be reached on outstanding application; and his views on the adequacy of these timelines. [21720/23]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.
Section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that it shall be the duty and objective of the Board to decide appeals as expeditiously as may be and, for that purpose, to take all such steps as are open to it to ensure that, insofar as is practicable, there are no avoidable delays at any stage in the determination of appeals.
It is important to acknowledge that a certain percentage of cases, due to particular circumstance such as complexity, requests for further information from applicants for permission, or further submissions from other participants including third parties, may not meet the 18 week target.
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.
In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, my Department sought the information requested from the Board, who have provided the following information regarding the number of normal planning appeals over 18 weeks on hand with An Bord Pleanála.
Normal Planning Appeals over 18 weeks on hand with An Bord Pleanála
|
- |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Year End Total |
|
2020 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
|
2021 |
3 |
14 |
15 |
72 |
104 |
|
2022 |
275 |
403 |
598 |
272 |
1548 |
|
2023 |
34 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
1582 (Year to date for 2023) |
Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, as Minister I am specifically precluded from exercising power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
