The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has today launched its 2024 Annual Report of its statutory planning oversight functions in relation to local authorities and An Coimisuin Pleanála. The report has been welcomed by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, along with Minister of State with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins TD, during a visit to the OPR’s offices in Dublin today.
Minister Browne acknowledged the work of the OPR saying, “The planning process in this country must be efficient, robust and transparent in order to meet Ireland’s immediate housing and infrastructure needs and into the next decades. Our system, all parts of it, must move at pace in what is a crisis scenario when it comes to the delivery of homes. I expect everyone to step up to the mark here as a result. I am determined – absolutely determined – to ensure the planning process is as simple and efficient as possible, and the OPR plays a critical role in how we do this.
The expertise and oversight of the OPR helps ensure that our local authorities identify additional suitably zoned land for residential development, deliver effective planning services, and provide staff and elected members with the training needed to maximise the impacts of our planning reforms. I warmly welcome the publication of the OPR’s annual report and the OPR’s ongoing efforts in working with Government in implementing what is a progressive reform programme.”
Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, John Cummins, said, “I believe the role of the Office is more important now than ever. To meet the urgent demands facing us, every part of the system must operate with clarity, efficiency and transparency. The Government is committed to working closely with the OPR as we drive forward a programme of planning reform that is ambitious, modern and responsive.”
Niall Cussen, Planning Regulator and CEO of the OPR stated that: “2024 was another busy year for the OPR guiding local authorities on their statutory plans, reviewing local authority planning systems and programmes of research, training and public awareness.”
Mr Cussen added, “while planning issues and challenges are often in the news, we’re working hard supporting the Government’s reform programme through progressive commencements of the Planning and Development Act 2024, implementation of its revised National Planning Framework by overseeing the work of local authorities in identifying additional residential zoned land supply and investment in the capacity of Ireland’s planning system through the Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources. My team in the OPR are hugely committed to building a better and stronger planning process for all our futures.”
Key Achievements from the OPR 2024 Annual Report:
· Oversight of 29 local authority statutory plan review processes was undertaken. This comprised of extensive technical assessment and engagement with local authorities on two new county development plans, ten variations of existing plans, 14 new local area plans and three amendments to existing local area plans resulting in 150 recommendations and 58 advisory observations on matters including meeting housing needs achieving sustainable urban and rural communities.
· Reviews of the work of the planning departments of Meath and South Dublin County Councils were published and initiated in relation to Roscommon County Council. Implementation of recommendations from previous reviews of Offaly County Council and Waterford City and County Council was also monitored.
· Planning Training was delivered to 916 local authority and regional assembly staff and 267 elected representatives, with all materials available on the OPR website, including videos of training.
· Information on latest legal cases was provided right across the planning system through the quarterly legal bulletin.
· A National Infrastructure Symposium was hosted by the OPR to inform recent and ongoing Government initiatives in the areas of infrastructure coordination.
· Research on ‘Brownfield Land Activation was published highlighting practical suggestions to achieve more brownfield land activation.
· The ‘Planning in Numbers’ report was published reviewing key trends and statistics in planning was also published, which is available on the OPR website.