Vol. 530 No. 6
313 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in view of the fact that the only resort available to the public in questioning decisions by An Bord Pleanála is by means of judicial review, he will request the board to keep minutes of its meetings which could be used as evidence in such a review. [4847/01]
The Planning and Development Act, 2000, will require An Bord Pleanála to give the main reasons and considerations on which its decision on an appeal is based. In addition, under section 111(7) of the 2000 Act, An Bord Pleanála is required to keep a written record of all its decisions, including the names of the board members present and the number voting for and against a decision. Regulations are being prepared by my Department which will enable me to bring the development control provisions of the Act, including these provisions, into force. As the provisions of the Act will require the board to keep a proper record of its decisions, I do not intend to issue a request to the board to keep minutes of meetings.
