Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2023
295. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of valid residential planning applications referred for judicial review, per local authority area, in each of the years 2016 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [43909/23]
View answer296. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of valid residential planning applications referred and vindicated by judicial review, per local authority area, in each of the years 2016 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [43910/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 295 and 296 together.
The recording of court cases including those relating to planning is one in which I have no statutory function and is a matter for the Courts Service which is statutorily independent. Judicial Reviews against the State, on which my Department may be included as a party, are co-ordinated by the Chief State Solicitors Office under the guidance of the Attorney General's Office.
Decisions of An Bord Pleanála and local authorities can be challenged by way of Judicial Review and it is a matter for the Board or Local Authority and their respective legal teams to record such cases.
An Bord Pleanála includes some basic information on Judicial Reviews within it's Annual Report, which is available online at www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/publications?category=AnnualReports. In addition, arrangements have been put in place by each Agency under the remit of the Department, including An Bord Pleanála, to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
