Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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588. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the inquiries into planning matters in Counties Wicklow, Dublin, Cork, Donegal, Galway and Carlow have been completed; and when he will make the results available. [45207/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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MacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants were appointed in February 2014 to carry out an independent planning review on the performance of planning functions having regard to specific planning issues in respect of six 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 received the final report from the consultants in July 2015 and, having fully considered its contents, I intend to publish the report on my Department’s website today.

A separate review follows on from the Order made by the High Court on 14 June 2013, quashing that part of my Department’s Planning Review Report (2012)relating to Donegal, following a settlement between my Department and the party concerned who had brought judicial review proceedings in respect of that part of the Report. The matter has been disposed of to the satisfaction of both sides. In light of these proceedings, my Department subsequently sought the advice of the Attorney General on how best to proceed in the case of issues raised in relation to planning matters in Donegal. Taking account of advice from the Office of the Attorney General my Department has appointed, on a non-statutory basis, Senior Counsel to prepare a review report in relation to these matters and a report is awaited.

I have also received correspondence in relation to a number of complaints regarding certain matters in County Wicklow which is being considered. A reply will be issued in due course.