Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
428. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the staffing levels in the An Bord Pleanála and their salaries, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26330/23]
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.
There are now more people working at An Bord Pleanála than at any time previously. Since October 2021, my Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in An Bord Pleanála, as detailed below.
• In October 2021, my Department approved an additional 24 posts across a range of technical and administrative grades including the setting up of a new Marine and Climate Unit.
• In December 2022, 34 additional posts were sanctioned, and the Board is in the process of filling these positions.
• In April 2023, An Bord Pleanála sought agreement for a total of 59 new posts, all of which were agreed by the Department. An Bord Pleanála submitted sanction approval requests for these positions and my Department has provided sanction approval for all 59 posts.
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, my Department obtained the information requested from An Bord Pleanála. An Bord Pleanála have provided the staffing information requested in the tables below.
Table 1: Board Membership at An Bord Pleanála at 30 th April 2023
|
Board Member Grade ABP |
FTE |
PPC rate |
Non-PPC rate |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
€227,369 |
€216,000 |
|
Deputy Chairperson |
1 |
€155, 384 |
€147,614 |
|
Board Member |
13 |
€135,478 |
€128,706 |
|
Estimated Current Total Salary (Board Membership @ PPC Rate) |
15 |
€2,143,967 |
Table 2: Staffing at An Bord Pleanála as of 30 th April 2023
|
Staffing Grade ABP |
FTE |
Average Cost Per Grade |
Grade Category |
|
Chief Officer |
1 |
€111,256 (non-PPC) |
Principal Officer Higher |
|
Director of Corporate Affairs |
1 |
€103,605 (non-PPC) |
Principal Officer |
|
Director of Planning |
2 |
€108,593 |
Senior Advisor |
|
Assistant Director of Planning |
4 |
€87,375 |
Engineer Grade I plus allowance |
|
Senior Planning Inspector |
40 |
€87,375 |
Engineer Grade I |
|
Ecologist |
1 |
€87,375 |
Engineer Grade I |
|
Planning Inspector |
24 |
€74,700 |
Engineer Grade II |
|
Senior Administrative Officer |
10 |
€83,625 |
Assistant Principal |
|
Senior Executive Officer |
19 |
€59,888 |
Higher Executive Officer |
|
Executive Officer |
54 |
€44,500 |
Executive Officer |
|
Administrative Assistant |
48 |
€35,458 |
Clerical Officer |
|
Total |
204 |
€12,235,828 |
|
|
Cumulative total of Table 1 and Table 2 |
219 |
€14,379,795 |
