Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2017
30. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason there are so many board vacancies on An Bord Pleanála; and the actions he is taking to implement the appropriate 2016 review of the organisation. [33106/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe appointment process for ordinary Board members of An Bord Pleanála is set out under section 106 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and the associated Regulations. This provides that appointments to the Board by the Minister are generally made from candidates nominated by panels of prescribed bodies and there is also provision to re-appoint an existing member for a second or subsequent term.
During April and May 2017, five ordinary Board members terms of office expired and five positions arose to be filled. The nomination process commenced in early January 2017 and concluded in mid-February. Subsequently in early April, following consideration of the matter, the then Minister decided on five new appointments. Two appointees have recently taken up their positions on the Board, with the remaining three to commence their new roles during August and September. This will maintain the Board membership at 9 persons. Further information on the new appointees is available from my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/bord-pleanala/coveney-announces-five-appointments-board-bord-pleanala.
Further to the Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála, undertaken by an independent expert panel and published in March 2016, an Implementation Group, comprising representation from my Department and An Bord Pleanála, has been established to oversee the implementation of the Review Group recommendations. The Implementation Group, which has to date met three times, is considering the recommendations across a number of common themes relating to legislative provisions, communications and stakeholder engagement, the Board's role and governance along with organisational and operational matters. The Implementation Group has published its Terms of Reference and Plan for Implementation, which are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/organisational_review_of_abp_implementation_group_-_terms_of_reference_plan_for_implementation_-_final.pdf
The Implementation Group will continue its work over the coming months with a view to publishing its final Implementation Plan later this year.
