• Assessment of local authority development plans and local area plans and regional assembly spatial and economic strategies and issuing of statutory advice to those authorities to ensure consistency with relevant national and regional policies and the requirements of planning legislation and good planning practice;

• Reviews of the performance by planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála, of their planning functions, including assessing any risks of maladministration or corruption. However, the OPR has no functions in relation to those of local authorities and An Bord Pleanála in considering any individual planning applications or appeals made to them, or any cases being considered by the Ombudsman, the criminal justice system or under judicial review; and

• Driving of national research activities as well as education, training and public awareness programmes to support application of best practice in planning functions and activities.