Local councils showed 'weaknesses' in implementing planning law

MINISTER OF State with responsibility for planning Jan O’Sullivan yesterday published a review report which examined complaints into seven local authorities. Ms O’Sullivan said the review found no evidence of criminality or corruption but had found weaknesses in the implementation of planning law and poor administration.

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Planning watchdog now unlikely to be appointed

ONE OF the key recommendations of the Mahon tribunal’s report last March was that a new office of planning regulator should be established, to oversee the implementation of planning policy and investigate “possible systemic problems . . . including those raising corruption risks”. Although Jan O’Sullivan, Minister of State with responsibility for planning, said at the time that the tribunal’s report would inform her thinking in bringing forward proposed reforms, the planning review she published yesterday would suggest that an independent planning regulator is unlikely to be appointed.

Reads the article @ The Irish Times

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Planning review finds 'no abuses'

A review of complaints about planning in seven local authority areas by the Department of Environment has not found any evidence of corruption or abuse of public office by officials. Instead, it found areas of policy and planning where greater clarity, consistency and transparency is needed in order to improve the planning system. These deficiencies include a failure to correctly interpret aspects of planning law, a lack of transparency over decisions by planning authorities and an over-emphasis on the input of developers into local area plans.

Read the article @ The Irish Times

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Locals celebrate incinerator ruling despite ‘disgraceful’ wait for decision

LOCALS in the Cork Harbour village of Ringaskiddy have been celebrating that an incinerator won’t be built in their midst.

In the local shop, Denis Murphy said it was "disgraceful" it has taken this long to get a final decision on a planning application first lodged 10 years ago.

"Look at all the money made by experts and lawyers taking part in all those hearings and all those court cases. Locals are pleased but you really have to ask questions about a planning process that carried on for so long."

Just a few hours later, Indaver had published a statement inferring that they don’t see yesterday’s ruling as the end of the road. Many believe the waste management firm will lodge yet another planning application, taking into account the comments made by the planning appeals board in their ruling.

Debbie O’Grady refused to be disheartened. She lives in the middle of the village and described the Bord’s ruling as "fantastic".

"All the community here have supported the anti-incinerator campaign and we’re very proud of the work they have done. If we had any more hazardous industry in this place, I think it would just blow up. We have more than our fair share of chemical industries here," she said.

Breeda Twomey and her husband, Ger, said they have campaigned against the planned waste-to-energy plant all over east Cork and the harbour area.

"It just wasn’t the right place. We thought that all along and it’s fantastic to see the campaign paying off like it has today," said Breeda.

Ger said the couple were fearful of how emissions from the planned incinerator or a fire at the site would blow towards their home.

"We couldn’t sit here and face that kind of risk," he said.

Timeline:

- November 2001: Indaver first lodges planning application with Cork County Council for incinerator.

- May 2003: Councillors reject material contravention of development plan. Planning permission is refused.

- June 2003: Indaver lodges appeal with An Bord Pleanála. CHASE demands oral hearing.

- September-October 2003: Oral hearing results in inspector’s report citing 14 reasons why planning should be refused.

- January 2004: An Bord Pleanála decides not to accept report, and grants permission.

- January 2005: High Court gives go-ahead for judicial review.

- November 2007: Adjournment sought by applicants pending outcome of a case against Ireland by the European Commission.

- February 2008: Adjournment turned down by High Court, but appealed to Supreme Court.

- June 2008: Appeal heard and judgment reserved.

- August 2008: State and Indaver seek costs from residents.

- November 2008: State drops costs against residents. Indaver keeps costs order but planning case dropped.

- November 28, 2008: Indaver lodges application for hazardous and municipal waste incinerators under strategic infrastructure process.

- April-June 2009: Oral hearing.

- January 2010: An Bord Pleanála says it will ‘probably’ refuse permission for municipal incinerator, but will consider hazardous waste incinerator.

- August 2010: Indaver submits new information, with 40% building size reduction.

- Yesterday: An Bord Pleanála finally refuses the project.

Read the article @ The Irish Examiner

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Reilly given children's hospital report

Minister for Health James Reilly said today he will bring the report of the review group on the national children’s hospital to Government shortly. The Minister was presented with the report by group chairman Dr Frank Dolphin and the members of the group at Leinster House today.

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Owners delaying planned extensions to houses

Owners are putting off planned improvements to their houses with a surge in those seeking extensions to almost expired planning permissions.

New figures show a 16% rise in the numbers of "extension of duration" in just 12 months — up from 702 in the first quarter of 2011 to 815 so far in 2012.

The trend has been identified in the latest National Housing Construction Index, which is complied by Link2Plans and due to be released today.

The extension facility was introduced in the 2010 Planning and Development Act to allow people who has secured planning permission that was about to expire after its five-year period to apply for an extension of up to another five years. Reasons set out in the legislation included commercial, economic, and technical reasons.

Link2Plans managing director Danny O’Shea said the recent surge probably reflected the very different economic circumstances under which many planning permissions were first granted up to 2007.

The index also shows the rate of decline in housing construction activity has eased slightly.

It found the decrease in planning applications has slowed from 23% in the first quarter of 2011 to 20% so far this year. However, three counties recorded marginal increases: Donegal was up 2%, Longford up 3%, and Leitrim up 4%.

The largest fall in applications was in Kildare and Kerry, both down 39%, with applications down 35% in Clare and 34% in Kilkenny.

Kerry replaced Mayo in the top four of the poorest performing counties.

Commencement notices have also shown a slight fall — down 1% to a 13% national decline compared to the last index.

The largest fall is in Donegal, down 35%, followed by Monaghan, down 34%, and Galway, which is down 31%.

Since the first index, Donegal and Galway have moved into the top three poorest performing counties, to join Monaghan.

Eight counties have experienced some rise in commencement activity, with the largest percentage increase in Cavan, up 12%, Westmeath, up 13%, Waterford up 14%, and Longford up 56%.

Link2Plans’ researchers examine every housing construction planning application and planning commencement notice in every county.

Mr O’Shea said because they examine actual data, their index gives "a real time barometer" to sentiment in the sector.

He said while there is a significant variation from county to country, this is a clear overall national trend in housing construction activity.

"However the national variation in housing construction activity continues to be quite pronounced.

"The two largest population centres of Dublin and Cork, have decreases in applications and commencements, however they are below the national average for the decline."

Read the article @ The Irish Examiner

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Blanchardstown bids for hospital

Proposals to co-locate the children's hospital on the Connolly Memorial Hospital site in Blanchardstown, Dublin are being officially launched today. The plans are among those being considered by the review group on the national children’s hospital. The group's report is expected to be received by Minister for Health James Reilly by Friday. The group, chaired by Dr Frank Dolphin, was set up by Dr Reilly after An Bord Pleanála rejected the original plans for the €650 million hospital at the Mater site in Dublin’s north inner city.

Read the article @ The Irish Times

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