Committee of Public Accounts to examine An Bord Pleanála’s 2020 Financial Statements

The meeting at 9.30am in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Seamus McCarthy, and officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, led by the Secretary General, Mr Graham Doyle.

During the afternoon session, beginning at 1.30pm, the Committee will consider correspondence and other business of the Committee.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “An Bord Pleanála is responsible for the independent determination of appeals and certain other matters under the Planning and Development Acts, including strategic infrastructural developments and housing schemes. The Board is accountable to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and in 2020 received funding of €19.2million from the Exchequer.

“In 2020, the Board recorded a deficit of €2.6million due to an increase in operating expenditure for the year related to additional legal costs associated with judicial review cases taken in connection with decisions by ABP. Expenditure on legal costs for 2020 amounted to €8.2m, an increase of €4.8m on 2019, split between the Board’s own legal fees in respect of legal proceedings, which amounted to €4.3m, and the other sides’ legal costs of €3.9m. The Committee wishes to examine in detail this considerable increase in legal costs, including how these fees were determined and how many relate to judicial reviews of Board decisions.

“The Committee would also like an update on the 2016 Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála, in particular why two thirds of its 101 recommendations have yet to be implemented six years after they were published. Other matters for examination include IT and consultancy costs. The Committee looks forward to discussing these and related matters with Mr Walsh and his colleagues.”

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

PAC is a standing committee of Dáil Éireann which focuses on ensuring public services are run efficiently and achieve value for money. Further information on the role and remit of the Committee can be found here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.