Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
448. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the workforce plan in An Bord Pleanála; the full cost per year per post; if there are plans to increase the workforce; how many new posts will be recruited; the full cost per year per new staff, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34893/23]
View answer460. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the staffing levels in An Bord Pleanála; the appointments to date and their salaries, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34996/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 448 and 460 together.
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.
There are now more people working at the Board than at any time previously. Since October 2021, my Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in the Board, 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, the Board submitted sanction requests for a total of 59 new posts, all of which were approved by my Department.
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 the Board who have provided the following information.
The Board has received from my Department for a total of 313 posts for 2023. The Board has advised that the total cost for filling all new posts sanctioned since October 2021 is estimated at €6,220,054.
As of the 30 June 2023 there were 221 people working in the Board including Board Members. The vacancies remaining from the sanctioned posts are at various stages of the recruitment process.
Table 1: Board Membership at An Bord Pleanála at 30 June 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 |
|
15 |
Table 2: Staffing at An Bord Pleanála as of 30 June 2023
|
Staffing Grade |
FTE |
Average Cost Per Grade |
Grade Category |
Overall Cost |
|
Chief Officer |
1 |
€111,256 |
Principal Officer Higher |
€111,256 |
|
Director of Corporate Affairs |
1 |
€103,605 |
Principal Officer |
€103,605 |
|
Director of Planning |
2 |
€108,593 |
Senior Advisor |
€217,186 |
|
Director of Legal Affairs |
1 |
€97,207 |
Principal Officer |
€97,207 |
|
Assistant Director of Planning |
4 |
€103,505 |
Engineer Grade I |
€414,021 |
|
Senior Planning Inspector |
43 |
€87,375 |
Engineer Grade I |
€3,757,125 |
|
Ecologist |
1 |
€87,375 |
Engineer Grade I |
€87,375 |
|
Planning Inspector |
24 |
€74,700 |
Engineer Grade II |
€1,792,800 |
|
Senior Administrative Officer |
9 |
€83,625 |
Assistant Principal |
€752,625 |
|
Senior Executive Officer |
19 |
€59,888 |
Higher Executive Officer |
€1,137,872 |
|
Executive Officer |
53 |
€44,500 |
Executive Officer |
€2,358,500 |
|
Administrative Assistant |
48 |
€35,458 |
Clerical Officer |
€1,701,984 |
|
Total |
206 |
