Éamon Ó Cuív Urges Statutory Timelines for Planning Appeals
Éamon Ó Cuív addressed delays in planning appeals, urging the Government to introduce short-term statutory timelines to speed up hearings. He acknowledged the Minister of Housing's efforts on funding and staffing but criticised appeals taking up to two years.
Appeals delays and call for statutory timelines
He told the House that some appeals are taking over two years and said the situation was "absolutely ridiculous", asking whether the Government would consider a short piece of legislation to impose statutory timelines so appeals can be heard expeditiously in the meantime.
Board capacity and backlog
He noted the board now has 15 members after falling as low as five last year and referred to destabilisation of the board. He named the interim chairperson, Una Buckley, and said parallel processes and four board meetings a day are being used to work through the backlog.
Legislative solution and timetable
He said the Consolidated Planning and Development Bill will introduce statutory timeframes and that he intends to bring the bill to the House, with the Government aiming to have it passed this year, while acknowledging that primary legislation will take time to progress.
Interim measures and resourcing
He acknowledged the Minister of Housing's additional funding and approval for more staff and said officials are actively engaged with the board. He also reported the use of retired planners to clear smaller cases such as individual houses and extensions and said these interim measures are working well and progress will be reported.
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I know that the Minister of Housing has been working very hard on the whole issue of the delays in the board plan, including providing extra funding and approval for more staff. However, the problem is that despite all of that, appeals are still taking up to two years. I also know that the Minister is preparing a very major piece of legislation, but that will take time to go through the House. The question is, would consideration be given by the Government to introduce you a short period, a short piece of legislation, to put statutory timelines on what is happening? Because some of the appeals are taking over two years, it is absolutely ridiculous. And to put some type of timeline so that we get appeals heard in the meantime in an expeditious manner. You are correct. I've messed with the interim chairperson of the board, Una Buckley, on a number of occasions. Firstly, the board now has 15 board members. It was as low as five last year. We destabilised it. It was in a difficult position. We brought forward the LRD Act, which is for the large scale residential developments and there is no backlog in that space and there are statutory timeframes there. I have asked them to work through the backlog and there are parallel board meetings happening. There are four board meetings now happening a day to make decisions on cases. It still remains a big issue for many people. You are correct. The Consolidated Planning and Development Bill will bring to the House and that will have those statutory timeframes. I intend to get that into the House and our intention as a Government is to have that piece of legislation passed this year. But in the meantime, I can assure you that we are actively engaged to my officials with the board to work through the backlog that is there. And furthermore, we are using as expertise of retired planners as well to look at the smaller cases in relation to individual houses, extensions, those types of things, to clear those ones through. And that is working quite well. But I will keep you informed of progress. Thank you. Thank you.
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