asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the inordinate delay of An Bord Pleanála in dealing with appeals for planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am not aware of any undue delay by An Bord Pleanála in dealing with planning appeals. Statistics supplied to me by the board show, in fact, that in 1978 the board again reduced the number of appeals before them for decision. Since they assumed responsibility for dealing with appeals in March 1977, the board have reduced the number of appeals on hands from 2,177 to 1,513 on hands at 31 December 1978.

What is the average delay in dealing with an appeal?

That is a separate question.

My question is if you are aware of the inordinate delay of An Bord Pleanála in dealing with appeals for planning permission.

I have answered that question. I said that the backlog has been reduced.

Does the Minister know the average length of time taken by An Bord Pleanála to deal with planning appeals?

I have no information on the average length of time of appeals. "Inordinate delays" were referred to. The reduction in the backlog is the important information.

That reduction could be accounted for by a reduction in the number of appeals.

The number of appeals received in 1977 was 2,705 and in 1978 the number was 3,551.

If the Minister can give us that information surely he can answer the question?

It is not Deputy Keating's question and the Deputy who put it down did not ask that specific question.

Order.

What is the average inordinate delay?

What is the average inordinate delay on applications to An Bord Pleanála? If the Minister has not got that information in his brief I can understand that it is a reflection on the person who drafted the brief. If the information is not there, would the Minister be prepared to accept representations from people who have direct experience, unlike himself, of the workings of An Bord Pleanála?

As the Deputy knows, I have no jurisdiction over An Bord Pleanála. Accepting representations on their behalf would not be a matter for me. With regard to whether the board are working sufficiently well and whether the 1976 Planning Act needs to be amended, I am keeping in touch with these matters. The intake of appeals has increased and the backlog has been reduced.

As a number of Deputies have raised this question, I would ask the Minister to circulate the information when he obtains it. Would the Minister receive representations on the general handling of appeals and on the time taken to process appeals?

I will circulate the information in regard to the average time. With regard to representations, the Deputy is welcome to make them.