Under section 34 (10) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the board is required to indicate the main reasons and considerations on which its decisions are based. Where a decision by the board to grant or refuse permission is different from the recommendations in the report of the inspector in any particular case, the board must indicate the main reasons for not accepting the recommendations.
As part of the response to the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the operation of the planning appeals system, an Bord Pleanála has put in place a mechanism in relation to complaints against its decisions. Upon receipt of such a complaint, the file relating to the decision will be reviewed and, although the decision itself will stand, where necessary, the board may issue a clarification.