An Bord Pleanála is falling behind on its planning application decisions, with completion rates for the 18 week statutory time frame decreasing by 41% in two years.

Fianna Fáil Housing Spokesperson Darragh O'Brien received PQ Data which revealed the completion rates have fallen from 79% in 2016 to 64% in 2017 to 38% of cases currently up to the end of October 2018.

Deputy O'Brien has called for additional measures to be introduced to combat the delays.

He said: "Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, An Bord Pleanála has a statutory objective to determine planning appeals within 18 weeks. However we are witnessing rapidly escalating delays with the legal timeframe completion rate collapsing by over half over the past two years. This is despite government promises on additional resources being enough to meet the increased workload on the organisation.

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"Last week, I raised this issue in the Dáil with the Minister as the mounting delays are becoming more and more evident. I have been contacted by several builders about undue delays that are frustrating their plans to put bricks and mortar in the ground. These lengthening delays are hiking up costs for builders and preventing badly needed homes from being delivered. This, in the midst of a national housing crisis, is unacceptable.

"There are a number of quick measures that the Minister should take to address delays. He should quickly move to expand the number of board members and reduce the quorum for decisions on smaller developments in order to expedite decision making. Additional staff and resources should also be rolled out quickly in order to ensure An Bord Pleanála is fully equipped to undertake its role in addressing the housing crisis," concluded O'Brien.

(CM/MH)