The Comptroller and Auditor General today called for an examination into the high rate of overturned planning decisions by An Bord Pleanála.
Following the publication of the Value for Money Report on Planning Appealstoday, Mr John Purcell said: "Although some deviation from the national norms is to be expected, high rates of overturn on appeal suggest that certain planning authorities' decision-making merits deeper examination."
Between 1995 to 1999, the rate of overturn of decisions to grant permission ranged from 12 per cent to 56 per cent in individual authorities. This compared with an overturn average of 28 per cent in the State.
The rate of overturn of planning authorities to refuse permission varied from eight per cent to 33 per cent, compared to with an average overturn rate of 18 per cent in the State.
In 2000, 27 per cent of all decisions considered on appeal were reversed. A further 31 per cent had the conditions attached to the original decision varied.
"The variations suggest that some areas may be too harsh in their decision making at local level," said a spokesman for the Comptroller and Auditor General this afternoon.
The report also said An Bord Pleanála staff shortages had lead to a deterioration in its service.
An increase in the number of appeals to planning authorities’ decisions meant staff were unable to keep pace with the caseload. This has caused a fall in the number of appeals processed within four months.
The report said staff numbers had increased by 61 per cent between 1994 and 2000. The Board has also supplemented its staff resources by hiring inspectors on a fee-per-case consultancy.
The report showed the number of planning appeals received by the Board had increased from 2,400 in 1994 to 5,400 in 2000. However it said the rate of appeal of planning authority decisions remained relatively constant at around seven per cent.