Report findings: 'unacceptable' practices

FAILURE TO enforce the planning laws, poor administration, files getting “lost”, exceeding delegated powers, sidelining of professional planners, poor morale and non- response to complaints were among the failings of Carlow County Council. A report published in 2010 by former Louth county manager John Quinlivan, commissioned by the council after the Local Government Audit Service raised concerns about “corporate governance”, found that several of its practices were “unacceptable” and should be changed.

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Planners back tightening of rules

PLANNING: THE TRIBUNAL’S findings “demonstrate the need for a tightening of procedures for the zoning of development land”, the Irish Planning Institute has said. However, it expressed satisfaction that at no stage in the inquiry had the integrity of professional planners been questioned. “In order to prevent a repetition of mistakes . . . and to ensure that local decision-making is made in the interest of the common good, it is important that the policies adopted at local level are checked before they become statutory,” it said.

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Inquiry finds Ahern associate had close links with corrupt lobbyist Dunlop

Tim Collins played a key role in Bertie Ahern’s financial affairs, including his annual fundraising dinners. THE MAHON tribunal report draws specific attention to the closeness of the corrupt lobbyist Frank Dunlop to the Fianna Fáil party, to former taoiseach Bertie Ahern and to one of his closest associates, Tim Collins. Collins played a key role in Ahern’s financial affairs, including his annual fundraising dinners, and ownership of his St Luke’s base in Drumcondra, Dublin. He was never a member of the party but did play a role in controlling money raised during election campaigns in Ahern’s Dublin Central constituency.

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Horse and cart era councils should be put out to grass

ANALYSIS: We need to introduce a new prototype of local authority to replace our obsolete councils, writes DIARMUID Ó GRÁDA. THE REFORMS which follow the planning tribunal report must be far-reaching. Our local government system is based on the era of the horse and cart. There are 114 local authorities. The primary tier of 34 county and city councils covers the entire country, while the second, 80 smaller councils are obsolete.

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Planned Luas line delays regeneration of flats

THE PLANNED regeneration of the Dublin City Council flats at Dominick Street has been put on hold because of a possible conflict with the proposed cross-city Luas line. In late 2010, the council lodged plans with An Bord Pleanála for a €60 million regeneration of its flat complexes at O’Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street.

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IPI Says Mahon Report's Findings Show The Need For A Tightening Of Procedures

The Irish Planning Institute has noted the conclusions of the Mahon Report on irregularities in the planning process and is satisfied that at no stage in the process of the tribunal inquiry, has the integrity of professional planners been questioned. However, the Institute is of the view that the Report's findings demonstrate the need for a tightening of procedures for the zoning of development land.

The Institute welcomes the publication of the report which marks the end of a lengthy public inquiry. While the report does criticise the conduct of certain persons in the planning system (as did the previous interim report from the same tribunal), none of these persons are professional planners or members of the Institute.

As well as confirming the integrity of the planning profession in Ireland, the report’s findings provide an opportunity to reflect on the distinction between the different roles of those responsible for the operation of the planning system.

On the report's key recommendations, the IPI says:

The report acknowledges that there have been changes in intervening years which have strengthened the planning system and that these have been positive.

It agrees with the majority of the recommendations in particular those that suggest that National Plans (NSS and NDP) should be put on a statutory footing.

The suggestion that "gaps" still remain at regional and national level in terms of the election of Regional Authorities and the appointment of board members to the NTA is valid. The IPI has for many years suggested that regional planning is essential in Ireland having regard to size of the country and the multiplicity of County Councils. Many infrastructure projects, towns, etc. serve regions and it is only logical that these should be planned in a regional context. It is normal in many European countries to have strong regional government with decision making powers. Recent amalgamations of local authorities provide a context for strong regional planning.

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Morning Ireland: Planning reform recommendations

Listen to the Irish Planning Institute's planning reform proposals on Morning Ireland.

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