Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 September 2004
38 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has satisfied himself regarding the mandate given to An Bord Pleanála and that it has the resources to implement it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22628/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Planning and Development Act 2000 expanded the role of the board to include approvals of major local authority infrastructure projects, as well as introducing new timeframes intended to streamline planning appeal procedures. Officials from my Department and An Bord Pleanála have been addressing on an ongoing basis a range of measures to enable the board to discharge its functions effectively. As a result, significant additional staffing and financial resources have been allocated to the board.
Currently the authorised staff complement, excluding board members, is 138, an increase of 53 posts since July 1997. In 2003, An Bord Pleanála was paid €10.823 million in funding by my Department. A further €11.2 million was allocated in 2004, an increase of 5%.
These additional resources and changes in the board's work practices are having results. The board is now determining over 80% of appeals within its statutory objective of 18 weeks. This improvement in its performance has been secured notwithstanding a steady increase in the numbers and complexity of appeals over the last few years.
