Planning watchdog begins review of ABP
The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has begun its review of some of the systems and procedures used by An Bord Plean谩la (ABP) to carry out its statutory planning functions.
The review had been signalled earlier this month by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O鈥橞rien.
will look at the robustness and effectiveness of decision-making practices, the organisation of work, and governance arrangements within the planning body鈥檚 board.
It will cover the board鈥檚 decision-making practices 鈥 including how it handles potential conflicts of interest, and how case files are allocated and assigned.
鈥楿rgent need鈥 to restore confidence
The watchdog said that the review would take place in two stages, due to the 鈥渦rgent need鈥 to put in place measures to restore confidence in ABP.
The first part will be led by Conleth Bradley SC, and will include Paul Cackette (formerly head of the Scottish Government鈥檚 Legal Directorate, and Chief Reporter of the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals), and John McNairney (former Chief Planner to the Scottish Government).
This will be completed on or before 3 October 2022.
Part two of the review will be carried out by Paul Cackette and John McNairney, and will be completed on or before 30 November.
Both stages will be working under the OPR鈥檚 director of planning reviews Gary Ryan.
Reviews to continue
The OPR said that ABP would also be included in the OPR鈥檚 continuing programme of general reviews, 鈥渨ith discrete modules addressing various focused areas of performance to be scheduled on a regular cycle over time鈥.
The review comes after the minister earlier this month referred a report on certain decisions made by ABP to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), an Garda S铆och谩na (AGS) and the Standards in Public Office (SIPO).
Minister O鈥橞rien said that he had taken the decision on the advice of the Attorney General.
Last month, the deputy chair of An Bord Plean谩la, Paul Hyde, resigned. He had earlier stood aside temporarily amid allegations of conflicts of interest.