The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has today 24th August initiated its review of certain systems and procedures used by An Bord Pleanála in the delivery of its statutory planning functions.
Taking account of the urgent need to progress measures aimed at restoring public confidence in An Bord Pleanála, as well as reviewing wider matters of concern relating to systems and procedures used by An Bord Pleanála in delivering certain functions, the review will be carried out in two parts in line with the Terms of Reference available at this link.
Part 1 of the review will, under Director of Planning Reviews of the OPR Mr Gary Ryan, be led by Mr Conleth Bradley SC with Paul Cackette formerly head of the Scottish Government’s Legal Directorate and Chief Reporter of the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals and John McNairney former Chief Planner to the Scottish Government, and will be completed on or before the 3rd October 2022
Part 2 of the review will, under Director of Planning Reviews of the OPR Mr Gary Ryan, be undertaken by Paul Cackette and John McNairney and will be completed on or before the 30th November 2022.
The OPR has engaged with An Bord Pleanála officials, who will put in place appropriate arrangements at strategic operational and high management levels to support the timely production of both parts of the review in line with the stated timetable.
In addition to the matters being focussed upon in this review, and as previously announced[1], An Bord Pleanála will be included in the OPR’s programme of general reviews on an ongoing basis with discrete modules addressing various focussed areas of performance to be scheduled on a regular cycle over time.
[1] https://www.opr.ie/update-on-next-phase-of-opr-planning-reviews-programme/
