Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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244. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the independent review of inquiries into planning irregularities in six local authorities; the action he will take; if inquiries will be extended to other local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6487/15]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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245. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to publish advice received from the Attorney General in relation to alleged planning irregularities in County Donegal; the action he will take on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6488/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together.

MacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants were appointed in February 2014 to carry out an independent planning review on the performance of planning functions in six selected planning authorities (Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath County Councils and Cork and Dublin City Councils) in accordance with section 255 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.  I expect to receive the final report from the consultants shortly and I subsequently intend to publish it having considered its contents.

I have no plans to extend this targeted planning review to other planning authorities. As a matter of practice, in the interests of ensuring maximum transparency and integrity for the planning system and the achievement of proper planning and sustainable development generally , I continue to keep under review measures to improve the consistency of approach in the implementation of planning legislation and policy across all planning authorities in order that the delivery of planning services are continually improved, in the interests of public confidence in the planning system and that it stands up to public scrutiny at every stage from policy formulation to decision making.

My Department is also considering proposals in respect of the next steps to be taken in respect of Donegal County Council planning matters, taking account of advice from the Office of the Attorney General. I expect a decision will be made shortly on the course to be pursued in this case.