asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the long delays in An Bord Pleanála and some local authorities in relation to the processing of planning appeals and planning inquiries; if he will meet formally with representatives of the construction industry to discuss the administrative and governmental steps that could be taken to improve the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Planning Appeals.
54.
Planning authorities are obliged to make a decision on a planning application within two months of receipt of the application or, where additional information is requested, within two months of receipt of this information. It is a matter for each planning authority to ensure that decisions issue on time and, in this context, I am not aware of any planning authority where planning decisions issued in recent times were outside the statutory periods. It is the express policy of An Bord Pleanála that procedures and systems for handling appeals are kept under ongoing assessment and review to ensure that all appeals are dealt with as expeditiously as possible and that all avoidable delays are eliminated.
I have responded positively to all staffing and other requests made in 1989 by the board. The October 1989 returns from the board indicate that 90 per cent of appeals on hands were less than six months old and 50 per cent less than three months old.
I will give careful consideration to any formal request from representatives of the construction industry for a meeting.