Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
444. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the progress to date to engage specialists in the marine and climate unit in An Bord Pleanála; if the nature of the two in-house roles have been defined including the breadth of disciplines they will cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34867/23]
View answer455. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the progress of recruiting new staff following the approval by his Department to add 59 new posts; how many of these new posts had expertise in biodiversity and-or climate change; when he expects this process to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34951/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 444 and 455 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 approval and sanction from my Department for a total of 313 posts for 2023. The Board have advised that, 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.
The Board has advised that, while the new posts do not relate specifically to biodiversity/climate change, the planners employed by the Board have a broad range of skills and the recruitment processes in place seek additional requirements in those areas.
The Board currently employs an in-house Ecologist on a full-time basis and a number of the Board's in-house staff have qualifications in Environmental Protection and Assessment. The Board continue to provide upskilling opportunities for all in-house staff in the area of biodiversity. The Board also engages a number of specialist consultants on a case-by-case basis across a range of disciplines on biodiversity and Environmental matters.
The Board has advised that, in relation to marine expertise, 18 specialists across a range of disciplines have been interviewed and the Board is continuing to interview and will form a panel of expertise which can be utilised for future needs.
The criteria for the two in house Marine Specialist roles in the Board can be found at the following link: www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/careers/ecologist-(1-post)-and-environmental-scientist-mar
