Austin Deasy
Ceist:26 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the serious problem created by a severe shortage of planning staff at Waterford County Council; and his plans to rectify this situation.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford County Council Staffing.
I am not aware of any such problem.
Staffing requirements and the allocation of staffing to the various programme areas are primarily matters for the county manager. There are no proposals before my Department for additional planning posts in Waterford County Council.
May I take it that the Minister has not received a request from Waterford County Council for additional funding or additional staff?
That is correct.
I think there has been some serious delay or mix-up because there is a very serious time lag between planning applications and the granting or refusal of such applications and this is due to a serious lack of engineering staff, not office staff, in that department.
Did the Minister say he received the request?
No.
Would the Minister inquire into it for me?
Yes.