Niall Cussen, Planning Regulator paid tribute to the contribution of Irish local authorities, particularly in relation to their planning departments on ‘Your Council Day’, celebrated today the 27th of June.
Speaking about the contribution Ireland’s 31 local authorities and 3 regional assemblies play, Niall Cussen, Planning Regulator said, ‘The hard work and commitment of elected members and staff performing vital planning functions across local authorities is to be celebrated today and every day, as they work constantly to promote and deliver proper planning and sustainable development. Therefore, this year’s theme of ‘Building Stronger Communities’ is particularly apt, considering the roles our local government system is playing in rural and urban regeneration and in place-making. People are seeing that building stronger communities through planning and place-making led by their local authorities is becoming more and more visible in parts of the country like the Viking Triangle in Waterford City Centre, Docklands in Cork and Dublin, the city centre in Limerick and in so many towns and villages across our country. There are many plans for more of this progress as long as we support our local authorities’
Niall Cussen added, ‘we work in close partnership with the 31 local authorities supporting the work of elected members and staff witnessing the focus and professionalism they bring to planning, while working under very high levels of expectation and pressure. Planning a key function with which local authorities serve our communities, yet just one of the 1,000 vital services they provide and impact on every aspect of daily life. From management of parks, fire services, arts and heritage, tourism, and community events, councils play a role in enhancing our lives every day. These services are made possible by the dedication and hard work of our council teams.’
On ‘Your Council Day’ the OPR would like to share some information about your local authorities (councils) role in planning your community:
What is development management?
Development Management is about ensuring the right development happens in the right place at the right time, benefitting communities and the economy through the determination of planning applications which many citizens experience.
What is forward planning?
Forward Planning is the process of strategic planning and development at the national, regional, and local levels, focusing on the sustainable development of land use and infrastructure. It involves the creation of strategies, plans, and policies to guide future growth, manage resources, and ensure proper planning for both urban and rural areas. This includes the council’s preparation of development plans, local area plans, and other strategies that address various aspects like housing, transportation, and environmental protection.
What is a development plan?
The development plan is the main public statement of planning policies for your local community. It sets out the land use, amenity and development objectives and policies of the council which guides the development management process. When a new development plan is being prepared, the council will notify the public. This will give you an opportunity to make observations, submissions and suggestions on the draft development plan. If you would like to read more on the topic of development plans, we have a useful planning leaflet which can be read here.
What role do councillors play in planning in Ireland?
Your council (also known as local authority) has areas of responsibility around planning in your community. Councillors (also known as elected members) who work for the council are responsible for making, reviewing and varying the development plan for an area. The elected members adopt the plan with the technical help of their officials within the council (the chief executive, planners, etc.). Once the plan is adopted, individual applications for planning permission are decided on by council officials in the context of the contents of the plan and other relevant legal and policy requirements. For more information on the role of your local elected members in the planning process in Ireland please visit this helpful fact sheet.