Brian Stanley
Question:524. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a planning regulator, as recommended by the Mahon tribunal will be appointed. [45999/14]
View answerTuesday, 2 December 2014
Questions (524)
Written answers
I intend to shortly publish a General Scheme of the Planning and Development (No. 2) Bill 2014 which will provide for, inter alia , the establishment of the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) in response to the planning recommendations of the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal. The primary function of the OPR, which will be established as an independent body, will be to carry out independent appraisal of regional and local level statutory plans prepared and adopted under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, namely, development plans, local area plans, regional spatial and economic strategies etc. The OPR will also have investigative powers to examine, inter alia, possible systemic failings in the planning system, again taking account of the recommendation of the Mahon Tribunal in this regard. The OPR will also be mandated to carry out the research, training and education roles identified by the Mahon Tribunal.