Delays in making planning decisions have contributed to a "deterioration in An Bord Pleanála's performance", according to a report published today.
The Board has failed make decisions on 90 per cent of cases within its 18-week target, managing just 52 per cent within the required period, the 2006 annual report recorded.
It has also stepped in on a number of decisions made by local planning authorities, reversing a third of decisions after appeals were submitted.
With planning appeals at their highest since 2002, the report showed that although the number of cases An Bord Pleanála handled has not increased since last year the number of appeals has, resulting in a 15 per cent increase in workload.
The Board blamed appeals from quarry operators and developers of housing schemes with more than 30 units for the increased workload saying these were the "significant factors" in the increased workload.
With appeals for 2007 expected to increase further, putting what chairman of the Board John O'Connor called a "severe strain on resources", An Bord Pleanála will almost double the number of inspectors that sit on panels to handle appeals, from 46 to 80.