The decision of An Bord Pleanála to hire new inspectors to deal with a growing backlog of cases has been criticised by members of the Dáil planning committee.

The State quango is under an unprecedented cloud of suspicion in the wake of the Paul Hyde affair and is facing a raft of inquiries.

Such is the state of political concern one Minister said: "The concern in Government is that when it comes to planning, an appalling vista is lurking.

"There is now real unease that the current crisis may open up a nest of other cases.

"One case would be bad enough but what is a real concern is that the ineptitude or worse is systemic. The entire planning process could collapse in the middle of the biggest housing crisis in the history of the State."

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In a stark warning to Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien they said: "The bigger issue is does this open up other cases and if so how many? If I were Darragh O'Brien I'd be asking 'is this guy going to expose other problems? Is this confined to the past and to history?' Because if it isn't it will be a debacle for housing."

Despite these pressures, the body recently advertised for inspectors to join on a fee-per-case basis. Fee-per-case planning inspectors generally deal with planning appeals and other cases within relevant timescales.

The main duties involve site inspections, preparing reports including assessment and recommendations to the board, with the fee per case being a lucrative €544. In an advertisement, An Bord Pleanála said it would "like to hear from suitably qualified persons who hold a professional qualification in planning recognised by the Irish Planning Institute or the Royal Town Planning Institute and since qualifying, have a minimum of five years relevant planning experience and wish to be considered in the event that An Bord Pleanála decides to engage fee-per-case inspectors".

Senator Victor Boyhan, who is a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, sharply criticised the proposal warning: "I do not believe the board should be making any additional appointments to its current regime, as it may be axed.

"An Bord Pleanála is a public body facing multiple investigations and inquiries. Therefore, it should not be acting as though it is business as usual.

"Public and political confidence is rapidly waning. Root and branch reform is urgently needed before the board starts to hire again."

Government ministers have studiously avoided expressing confidence in a board which has been hit with an unprecedented wave of accusations and resignations and is facing at least seven further investigations and reviews.

This includes the referral by Mr O'Brien of the Remy Farrell report into the former Deputy Chairperson Mr Hyde to the Director of Public Prosecutions, to the Garda Commissioner and the Standards in Public Office Commission.

The current chairman, David Walsh, said this would include measures to strengthen the effectiveness of the board's existing protocols and systems to manage potential conflicts of interest.

Gardaí recently visited the offices of An Bord Pleanála after starting an investigation into matters arising in the controversy over the planning authority's former deputy chairman Mr Hyde.

He resigned in July during the investigation for the Minister by Mr Farrell.

Mr Hyde has always denied any wronging.