An Bord Pleanála’s workload creating ‘insane’ pressure on workforce

An Bord Pleanála is being overwhelmed with applications, including for house building. Photo: Bloomberg

Fearghal O'Connor

May 01 2022 02:30 AM

Major concerns are emerging about a shortage of planners and other key staff after a huge jump in workload for the state’s key planning authority, An Bord Pleanála (ABP).

A mounting number of often complex, large-scale housing, transport and renewable energy projects is leading to fears of delays across the planning system unless specialist and other support staff numbers can be increased.

The pressure within the system was “insane” and the process of building up the resources of the State’s main planning authority was getting caught in “bureaucratic circles” despite previous increases in staffing numbers, according to well placed sources.

In just 14 days in April the planning board received more than 40 applications for housing developments of more than 100 housing units each, with some containing proposals for more than 1,000 homes, the Sunday Independent has learned.

The flood of applications for Strategic Housing Developments (SHDs) – including 16 in Fingal alone – came in the two weeks before an April 19 deadline for applications to the controversial fast-track system that is being replaced by a new system for evaluating big residential developments.

The Large-Scale Residential Development system will see the role of local authorities restored in the process, replacing the SHD system, which saw such projects go directly to An Bord Pleanála.

But the sudden influx of housing applications – which could potentially provide homes for tens of thousands of people over the coming years – comes as ABP deals with six major Bus Connects applications and with the likelihood that seven major offshore wind farm projects will be fast-tracked directly into the body by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan ahead of the establishment of a new maritime planning agency.

“As a general rule, the board mirrors many other public bodies and makes annual submissions to its parent department, as regards staffing/resources, etc,” said an ABP spokesman in response to detailed queries.

When contacted by the Sunday Independent, the Department of Housing said that in October 2021, it had approved the 2021-2022 An Bord Pleanála Workforce Plan which provided for an additional 24 posts across a range of technical and administrative grades.

“This included eight posts requested for a new marine and climate unit. These additional 24 approved posts increase overall approved board staffing by 13pc from its previous total of 183 staff (excluding board members).

“In addition, the board advertised on March 25 for qualified individuals to apply to be members of external specialist consultancy panels to advise the board eg ecologists, ornithologists, hydrologists etc,” said the department in its statement.

In its statement, the department said that An Bord Pleanála was continuing to progress modernisation initiatives “including a major ICT transformation project to deliver efficiencies in its planning inspectorate’s case processing, including the facilitation of online submission of applications and appeals.

“The Department continues to liaise closely with ABP in relation to its resourcing needs, the upskilling of the organisation and the modernisation of its case processing procedures in order to effectively deliver on its statutory functions,” it said.

An Bord Pleanála’s workload creating ‘insane’ pressure on workforce

Business Newsletter

Most Watched

Irish TikToker compares watching Love Island in your 20s and 30s in hilarious sketch

Gas explosion catapults man into the air

Hilarious clip shows crowd member doing dance routine before Harry Styles Dublin concert

Storm chaser captures incredible rainbow and lightning flash

Conor McGregor appears in court on motoring charges

Latest Business

Most Read

Latest