Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
714. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the workforce plan for An Bord Pleanála, the current staffing levels; and the cost per year per post, in tabular form. [27696/23]
View answerAn 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.
There are now more people working at An Bord Pleanála than at any time previously. Since October 2021, my Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in An Bord Pleanála, as detailed below.
• In October 2021, my Department approved an additional 24 posts across a range of technical and administrative grades including the setting up of a new Marine and Climate Unit.
• In December 2022, 34 additional posts were sanctioned, and the Board is in the process of filling these positions.
• In April 2023, An Bord Pleanála sought agreement for a total of 59 new posts, all of which were agreed by the Department. An Bord Pleanála submitted sanction approval requests for these positions and my Department has provided sanction approval for all 59 posts.
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.
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.
In order to be of assistance, my Department obtained the information requested from An Bord Pleanála, who have provided the following information relating to staffing.
An Bord Pleanála have advised that as of the 31 May 2023 there are 216 people working in An Bord Pleanála. An Bord Pleanála have provided the following information in Table 1 and Table 2 regarding staffing and cost per year per post.
Table 1: Board Membership at An Bord Pleanála at 31st May 2023
|
Board Member Grade ABP |
FTE |
PPC rate |
Non-PPC rate |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
€227,369 |
€216,000 |
|
Deputy Chairperson |
1 |
€155, 384 |
€147,614 |
|
Board Member |
13 |
€135,478 |
€128,706 |
|
Total Number of Board Members |
15 |
|
Table 2 Staffing at An Bord Pleanála as of 31st May 2023
|
Staffing Grade ABP |
FTE |
Average Annual Cost Per Grade |
Grade Category |
|
Chief Officer |
1 |
€111,256 (non-PPC) |
Principal Officer Higher |
|
Director of Corporate Affairs |
1 |
€103,605 (non-PPC) |
Principal Officer |
|
Director of Planning |
2 |
€108,593 |
Senior Advisor |
|
Assistant Director of Planning |
4 |
€87,375 |
Engineer Grade I plus allowance |
|
Senior Planning Inspector |
41 |
€87,375 |
Engineer Grade I |
|
Ecologist |
1 |
€87,375 |
Engineer Grade I |
|
Planning Inspector |
24 |
€74,700 |
Engineer Grade II |
|
Senior Administrative Officer |
9 |
€83,625 |
Assistant Principal |
|
Senior Executive Officer |
19 |
€59,888 |
Higher Executive Officer |
|
Executive Officer |
54 |
€44,500 |
Executive Officer |
|
Administrative Assistant |
45 |
€35,458 |
Clerical Officer |
|
Total Number of Staff |
201 |
|
