Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2018
247. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of staff working in the office of the planning regulator; the anticipated number of staff by the end of 2018 and 2019, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18471/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has not yet been established as the necessary statutory framework is not yet in place. The Planning & Development (Amendment) Bill 2016, which provides for the establishment of the OPR, is currently progressing to Report Stage in the Seanad. Once it is passed into law, I will be in a position to set an establishment date for the Office.
My Department has been making such preparations in advance of the establishment of the Office as are possible, while awaiting the enactment of the legislation. Once appointed, the Regulator will continue the preparatory work that my Department has been engaged in to set up the Office. It is envisaged that the Regulator will be supported by a small number of staff initially to build up the functional and administrative capacity of the Office, ensuring its ability to meet statutory obligations. In the longer term and subject to agreement on resource requirements with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, it is envisaged that the Office will have a permanent staff of approximately twenty employees, who will be recruited on a phased basis, in the period following initial establishment.
