Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

The planning review is intended to assess the application of planning legislation, policy and guidance within the development plan and development management systems at local level and to inform further policy development in these areas. Seven planning authorities, including Carlow County Council, representing a broad geographical spread of both urban and rural areas as well as both large and small authorities, had been selected to assist in the review of policies and practices by reference to a number of cases raised with my Department. In the case of Carlow County Council, the issues raised relate to weaknesses in the procedures followed by, and governance structures in place in, the planning department of the Council.

The question of reinstating the review does not arise as it was never terminated. Rather, I am proceeding now on the basis of my predecessor's decision that instead of incurring significant costs to the Exchequer by securing outsourced expertise, the Department would carry out an examination of the cases involved to inform the planning review. I will be making a public statement in the coming weeks, setting out fully the nature of the complaints involved, the findings of the review and the conclusions and recommended next steps, as appropriate.

See this speech in context