Save in the case of a refusal on a planning application, planning application files held by a planning authority must be made readily available for inspection to the general public for five years after the decision has been made. The planning application and any submissions made in respect of the application must also be available for inspection while the application is being considered by the planning authority. Internal planning authority reports are not required to be made available for inspection until after the application has been determined. This restriction on internal reports is to protect the deliberative process within the planning authority.
Where an application has been refused the file must be made available for inspection for one month after the decision. However, planning authorities would generally facilitate access after that period. My Department has also requested by circular letter that planning authorities should make available to the public copies of documents held on a planning application file (other than plans, drawings or photographs).
The above provisions are of general application and there are no special provisions in the planning code regarding rights of inspection in respect of Oireachtas Members or other public representatives.
