Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 May 2025
713. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many staff were employed in An Bord Pleanála for the years 2020 to 2024, as of December in each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23590/25]
View answer726. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff that are now de facto employed in An Bord Pleanála as of 1 May 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23614/25]
View answer727. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new staff that will be employed in An Bord Pleanála in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23615/25]
View answer728. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new staff sanctioned for employment in An Bord Pleanála 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23616/25]
View answer729. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff that will retire from An Bord Pleanála in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23617/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 713, 726, 727, 728 and 729 together.
An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.
In preparing the Board for the transition to An Coimisiún Pleanála, staffing issues have systematically been addressed on an ongoing basis since 2021.
There are now more people working at the Board than at any time previously. Since October 2021, my Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in the Board. The Board has advised that as of 31 March 2025 there were 285 individuals working in the Board including Board Members. The Board received approval and sanction from my Department for a total of 313 posts to date. There have been no new positions sanctioned so far in 2025 for An Bord Pleanála.
Specific information regarding retirements in 2025 is not held by my Department.
Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie .
