Planning Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 November 2017

Wednesday, 29 November 2017

Ceisteanna (536)

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

536. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of decisions before An Bord Pleanála that have been delayed over the past year; the number that involved the construction of residential units; the number of residential units impacted; the measures being taken to ensure that An Bord Pleanála will have increased capacity to make decisions; when he expects the delays will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50750/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Under section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, An Bord Pleanála (the Board) has a statutory objective to determine appeals within 18 weeks.  During the period January to October 2017, the Board disposed of 1,763 cases.  The breakdown of these cases is as follows:

Cases Disposed	Number disposed in 2017 as of end October 2017	Number disposed in Statutory Objective Period	% Disposed in Statutory Objective Period	Number disposed outside Statutory Objective Period	% Disposed outside Statutory Objective Period
All cases	1,763	1,189	67%	574	33%
Housing Schemes involving 30+ units	77	42	55%	35	45%

In relation to the cases disposed outside the statutory objective period, the number of housing units involved was 2,685, which included 3 proposed student accommodation cases involving  622 bed spaces.

Earlier this year, five new members were appointed to the Board replacing outgoing members; the five new appointees took up office during the period June to September 2017.  While this change-over resulted in a temporary reduction in Board capacity for a period in mid-2017, the Board has now been restored to its previous complement of nine members and it is anticipated that the impacts of the temporary reduced capacity will be resolved in the months ahead.

In relation to housing developments specifically, the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 provides for new streamlined arrangements to enable planning applications for strategic housing developments, of 100 housing units or more or student accommodation developments of 200 bed spaces or more, to be made directly to the Board for determination within a period of 16 weeks. 

With regard to resourcing the Board to support the new arrangements, a new Strategic Housing Division has been established, involving the recruitment of an additional 10 staff members to work solely on strategic housing developments.  I am also considering exercising my powers under the Planning Acts to appoint two additional Board members to ensure sufficient capacity within the Board, when strategic housing development applications are referred to Board level for final determination.