Hansard

Planning Service

Volume 453: debated on Monday 27 November 2006

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Sammy Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new planning officers (a) were recruited by and (b) left the Planning Service in each of the municipal areas in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. (102357)

David Cairns

The information requested is not available by municipal area but can be provided on the basis of the Planning Service’s various offices, which are spread throughout Northern Ireland.

Recruitment of planning officers

Year of recruitment

Allocated to:

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

20061

Total

Ballymena

8

9

10

12

—

39

Belfast

10

8

4

6

—

28

Coleraine

6

5

7

2

—

20

Craigavon

16

12

17

13

—

58

Downpatrick

11

7

9

8

—

35

HQ

15

13

11

5

—

44

Enniskillen

2

1

0

1

—

4

Omagh

10

4

7

12

—

33

Derry

3

3

4

1

—

11

1 To date.

Note:

This does not include staff already in post who were successful on external competitions.

Planning officers who left the planning service (resignations and retirements)

Division

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

20061

Total

Ballymena

3

—

1

4

6

14

Belfast

2

2

1

2

5

12

Coleraine

—

—

1

—

2

3

Craigavon

—

2

2

3

6

13

Downpatrick

1

2

4

3

7

17

HQ

4

3

2

6

6

21

Enniskillen

—

—

—

2

1

3

Omagh

1

2

1

3

2

9

Derry

2

—

2

1

—

5

1 To date.

Mr. Gregory Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account will be taken in the assessment of domestic planning applications by the Planning Service in Northern Ireland which include energy efficient measures. (104162)

David Cairns

Current published planning policy does not provide specifically for small scale renewable energy sources, this is however being addressed by the Department with a new Planning Policy Statement due to be published early next year.

A consultation paper on wider permitted development rights for domestic renewable energy sources is also due to be published in early 2007.

At this current time planning applications which incorporate energy efficient measures are determined on their individual merits taking account of the need to facilitate renewable energy sources balanced against protecting the residential amenity of neighbouring dwellings.