An 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.
The Board has received an Exchequer allocation of €26.9 million for 2023, which is an increase of €4.7million on the 2022 allocation. The Board has advised that there is sufficient funding in this Exchequer allocation to facilitate the recruitment of all sanctioned 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 assist, my Department obtained the information requested from the Board.
Details of the staffing of the Marine and Climate Unit are set out in the table below. The Board has also advised that, in the case of vacancies in the Marine and Climate Unit, cover is provided from the Board Inspectorate while vacant positions are in the process of being filled.
Table 1 Marine and Climate Unit Staffing as of 30th June 2023
|
Role
|
Number of Approved and Sanctioned posts
|
Status of Role
|
|
Director of Marine Planning
|
1
|
Appointed
|
|
Assistant Director of Planning
|
1
|
Appointed
|
|
Senior Administrative Officer
|
1
|
Competition Advertised
|
|
Senior Planning Inspector
|
9
|
5 Appointed
4 Vacant
|
|
Specialist Role
|
2
|
2 Advertised 30/06/2023
|
|
Senior Executive Officer
|
1
|
Filled
|
|
Executive Officer
|
4
|
1 Filled
3 offers made
|
|
Administrative Assistant
|
4
|
Appointed
|
|
|
Total: 23
|
|
