To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long it took to process a planning application from the date it was received until a decision notice was issued in each of the last three years at (a) Ballymena, (b) Belfast, (c) Coleraine, (d) Craigavon, (e) Downpatrick, (f) Enniskillen, (g) Derry and (h) Omagh planning offices. (90808)

Over the last three to four years the Planning Service has been facing unprecedented work load pressures, particularly on the development control side, with the number of planning applications received in 2005-06 showing an increase of almost 30 per cent. in the number received three years ago.

The following table shows the average time taken to process a planning application from the date of validation to the date of decision in each of the last three years at (a) Ballymena, (b) Belfast, (c) Coleraine, (d) Craigavon, (e) Downpatrick, (f) Enniskillen, (g) Derry and (h) Omagh Divisional Planning Offices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average time taken between the receipt by the Planning Service of Northern Ireland of the recommendations of local authorities in respect of planning applications and (a) their determination by the Planning Service and (b) the despatch to the applicant of the decision of the Planning Service was in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. (92175)

From 1 April to 31 August 2006, the average time taken between the last Council consultation and the issuing of a decision was 5.1 weeks.

In the majority of cases, there is no further determination stage after the last Council consultation.