Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
424. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of new positions sanctioned at An Bord Pleánála in the past 12 months; the positions granted; the cost implications of each position; and the number of these positions that have been filled to date. [39707/23]
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 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, and 93 of these posts are new positions sanctioned in the past 12 months. A breakdown of the type, cost and status of each of the 93 posts sanctioned in the last 12 months is provided by An Bord Pleanála in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Posts Sanctioned in An Bord Pleanála in the past 12 months
|
Posts Sanctioned |
Cost Per Post |
Status of Posts as of 15/09/23 |
|
Assistant Director of Planning x1 |
€88,093 |
Filled |
|
Senior Planning Inspector x25 |
€78,656 |
13 Filled 12 Vacant |
|
Planning Inspector x12 |
€68,491 |
7 Filled 5 Vacant |
|
Senior Administrative Officer x1 |
€74,701 |
Vacant |
|
Senior Executive Officer Specialist x2 |
€53,955 |
2 Vacant |
|
Senior Executive Officer x5 |
€53,955 |
1 Filled 4 Vacant |
|
Executive Officer x20 |
€33,812 |
8 Filled12 Vacant |
|
Administrative Assistant x21 |
€27,132 |
2 Filled19 Vacant |
|
Director of Marine Planning x1 |
€100,995 |
Filled |
|
Director of Legal Affairs x1 |
€97,207 |
Filled |
|
Ethics Officer x1 |
€74,701 |
Vacant |
|
Director of Transformation x1 |
€97,207 |
Vacant |
|
Marine Specialist x2 |
€78,656 |
2 Vacant |
