Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018
1207. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason there are no time limits for An Board Pleanála to adjudicate on applications; and his plans to introduce binding time limits for adjudication of such applications. [45688/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, An Bord Pleanála has a statutory objective to determine normal planning appeals within 18 weeks of receipt of the appeal. Furthermore, under Section 37J of the Act, the Board has an objective to make decisions on applications for strategic infrastructure development within a period of 18 weeks, beginning on the last day for making submissions or observations.
Where the Board does not consider it possible or appropriate to reach a decision within 18 weeks (e.g. because of the particular complexities of a case or the requirement to hold an oral hearing), it will inform the parties of the reasons for this, and will indicate when it intends to make its decision.
The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 provided for 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.
The comprehensive Report of the Independent Review Group on the operations of An Bord Pleanála, published in March 2016, identifies over 100 recommendations, including recommendations to change the statutory objective timeframes for the work of the Board. A high-level implementation group, with representatives from my Department and the Board, has been established to oversee implementation of the Review Group recommendations, some of which may require legislative underpinning. The recommendations in relation to the statutory objective periods within which the Board is expected to make decisions, including decisions on projects involving substantial investment in the economy, are being considered in this context.
