Press release
Ministers Dillon and O’Brien highlight progress on outstanding planning cases by An Bord Pleanála
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
Ministers Alan Dillon and Darragh O’Brien have today (2 January 2025) highlighted the progress of An Bord Pleanála in addressing the backlog of planning cases.
An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is a critical organisation in the planning hierarchy within Ireland, standing at the apex of our planning system, it plays a crucial role as a final arbiter of many planning applications.
Following matters arising during the course of 2022, the Board has contended with a large backlog of case files to be determined throughout 2023 and into 2024. Through the provision of additional resourcing by the department in the form of increased staffing, an increased number of Board members and an increase in funding allocation, significant progress has been made in reducing this backlog.
The total number of cases disposed of in 2024 to the end of November was 3,464, an increase of 13% on cases disposed in the same period for 2023. By the end of November 2024, the number of cases on hand had reduced from 2,546 in November 2023 to 1,609 cases, a year-on-year decrease of 37%.
Alan Dillon, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning said:
“The progress made by An Bord Pleanála in reducing their backlog of cases going into the new year is a welcome achievement. The additional resourcing provided by the department, including an increase in funding, Board members and staffing, has ensured that this work was possible and can follow through to 2025. The Board's ability to deliver timely and fair decisions is critical for Ireland's planning system, economic growth, and housing supply. This reduction in case numbers positions the organisation to meet the challenges of the future with confidence, especially as we move forward with the commencement of the Planning and Development Act and An Coimisiún Pleanála.”
The Board has ensured that it addresses Large Scale Residential Development (LRD), which replaced the former Strategic Housing Development (SHD) process in 2022, within the relevant statutory timelines. To the end of November 2024, 74 LRD cases were disposed of, with the statutory timeline of 16 weeks being adhered to in all cases.
This reduction in cases on hand, matched with the increased throughput of cases being determined, will see the Board reaching more ‘normal’ levels of operation in Q1 2025. This is a welcome development in advance of the implementation of the Planning and Development Act 2024 in early 2025.
Darragh O’ Brien, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage said:
“I welcome the work achieved by the Board during 2024. The Board has been through a challenging period over the past few months and years but the progress shown in reducing the backlog of cases on hand demonstrates the hard work ongoing within the organisation. I have no doubt that this trend will carry on into 2025 with a continued focus on reducing the case files and increasing decision making.”
Since October 2021, the department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in An Bord Pleanála. As of 30 November 2024, 290 people are working in ABP (including Board Members). It is intended that when all the approved posts are filled, over 300 people will be employed by the Board. This will represent an increase in the overall agreed staffing at the Board to in excess of 50% since 2021.
A recruitment campaign for full-term Board members, managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS), commenced in October 2023. Ten candidates have now been appointed as full term Board members by the Minister, with a full complement of 15 full term Board members to be in place from January 2025.
The newly enacted Planning and Development Act 2024 provides for the proposed new structure for the Board. An Bord Pleanála is to be renamed An Coimisiún Pleanála to reflect the new organisational structure of the Commission.
The new Act contains a number of provisions reflecting this new organisational structure and will clearly outline the separate roles of:
A campaign to appoint members of the new Governing Board, including a Chairperson, is currently underway and is being facilitated by the Public Appointments Service. It is expected that the new members will be in place early in the new year enabling the commencement of relevant sections of the Act.