Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2023
359. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is concerned with the operating deficit at An Bord Pleanála; if he or his officials have had any discussions with the Bord on this deficit and if additional funding is being sought by the Bord to clear this deficit. [32328/23]
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.
An Bord Pleanála has received an Exchequer allocation of €26.9 million for 2023, which is an increase of €4.7million on the 2022 allocation.
My Department has engaged with An Bord Pleanála regarding the financial deficit. The Board has advised that their accounts are completed on an accrual accounting basis and this accounting process requires that all financial liabilities which arise in a particular year are included in its accounts for that year, even where those identified and recorded liabilities are not cash discharged in that financial year. At this point in time the Board has advised my Department that it is not requesting supplemental funding on the basis that existing cash reserves are sufficient to discharge all anticipated liabilities that will present for cash discharge in 2023.
The Board has agreed to keep my Department informed of significant issues around funding, including legal costs, and advised that, should the cash reserves become depleted to a level that suggests additional funding may be required, a request will be made for supplementary funding.
