This article is from page 6 of the 2006-05-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
THE county manager has conceded that planners in the county are making last-minute decisions and the situation “is not good enough”.
Alec Fleming said the council needs extra resources to deal with the large number of planning applications. He said the 208 quarries before the planning department for registration is one of the highest in the country and is adding to the strain.
The current permanent administrative and clerical staff complement in the Economic Development and Planning Department is 22, excluding temporary staff. Owing to a national cap on staffing numbers, there are currently no proposals to increase this.
“There is a small amount of leeway for temporary contracts and we are making use of that,” he said.
Director of Services Bernadette Kinsella said that three vacancies within the planning department, including a senior executive and two assistant posts, are likely to be filled within the coming week.
Officials were responding to claims by councillors that the planning staff are refusing to meet with the general public to discuss planning applications due to their work load.
“I am beginning to be won over by the idea that planning is bursting at the seams,” said Cllr Tom Prenderville. He said people are questioning if the planners are “architects of their own misfortune”.
“We now find the planning department is not able to cope with planning applications,” he added.
Cllr Oliver Garry said he is afforded a halfhour meeting every week with the planners but this is not adequate time.