Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 4

Written Answers. - An Bord Pleanála.

John Browne

Ceist:

428 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the names of the current members of An Bord Pleanála; the dates of their appointment; the qualifications of those appointed; the name of the Minister who made the appointment; and the date for the appointment of a new board. [7906/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey):

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. The board currently has a membership of ten, including the chairman. Ordinary members are appointed for a five year term or until they reach the age of 65 years. The Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1983, as amended, provides for a permanent board membership of six. However, because of the ongoing increase in the number of appeals to the board, the number of board members was increased by four to ten on a temporary basis until 6 November 2001, pursuant to section 1 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1998. It follows that vacancies on the board are filled as they arise.

The chairman of the board is appointed for a seven year term by Government from among a list of candidates recommended by a statutory selection committee, established in accordance with the provisions of section 5 of the 1983 Act. The appointment of ordinary members of the board is governed by section 7 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1983, as amended by section 1(f2>b) of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1998. One appointment as an ordinary member of An Bord Pleanála is made by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government from among the officers of the Minister who are established civil servants. Other appointments as ordinary members of the board are made by the Minister from among persons nominated by organisations on panels which are prescribed as being representative of a number of interests, namely physical planning and development; the environment and amenities; economic development and construction industry; and social, economic and general interests.

The Planning and Development Act, 2000, provides for a permanent complement of eight board members, including the chairperson. Similar to the current legislation, it also provides for the appointment of additional ordinary members to the board where the Minister for the Environment and Local Government is of the opinion that the number of cases being received by the board is at such a level that it necessitates the appointment of one or more additional board members in order for the board to fulfil it statutory duty and objective. Regulations giving effect to these provisions of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, are being prepared.

Name	Period of Appointment	Panel Appointed From	Qualifications	Appointed By Minister
Mr. John O'Connor(Chairman)	6 May 2000-5 May 2007	Government Appointment on recommendation of Selection Committee	Former Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Local Government	Government
Ms Anne Quinn(Deputy Chairman)	(1) 20 March 1984(2) 20 March 1989(3) 9 March 1994(4) 20 March 1999-19 March 2004	Social, Economic and General Interests Panel	Botanist/Conservationist	(1) Liam Kavanagh(2) Padraig Flynn(3) Brendan Howlin(4) Noel Dempsey
Ms Margaret Byrne	(1) 6 February 1995(2) 6 February 2000-5 February 2005	Officer of the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Section 7(2)(e) of the 1983 Act)	Principal Officer, Department of the Environment and Local Government	(1) Brendan Howlin(2) Noel Dempsey
Mr. Lewis Clohessy	(1) 13 March 1995(2) 13 March 2000-11 March 2004	Environment and Amenities Panel	Electrical Engineer	(1) Brendan Howlin(2) Noel Dempsey
Mr. Brian Hunt	1 January 1999-6 November 2001	Planning and Development Panel	Senior Engineer(Planning)	Noel Dempsey
Mr. Derek Maynard	1 September 1999-6 November 2001	Economic Development and Construction Industry Panel	Engineer	Noel Dempsey
Ms Rosalind Nixon	30 November 1998-6 November 2001	Environment and Amenities Panel	Senior Planner	Noel Dempsey
Mr. Michael O'Connell	(1) 3 November 1986(2) 3 November 1991(3) 3 November 1996-7 May 2001	Planning and Development Panel	Senior ExecutivePlanner	(1) John Boland (2) Padraig Flynn(3) Noel Dempsey
Ms Angela Tunney	10 March 2000-6 November 2001	Economic Development and Construction Industry Panel	Architect	Noel Dempsey
Mr. Michael Wall	4 January 1999-6 November 2001	Social, Economic and General Interests Panel	Architect	Noel Dempsey

Question No. 429 answered with Question No. 408.