My Department appointed Senior Counsel on a non-statutory basis in September 2015 to prepare a review report in relation to planning matters in Donegal. This follows the Order made by the High Court on 14 June 2013, quashing that part of my Department’s Planning Review Report (2012) relating to Donegal, arising from a settlement between my Department and the party concerned who had brought judicial review proceedings in respect of that part of the Report. Senior Counsel was originally due to submit a review report to my predecessor by end- October 2015; however, further interactions and clarifications sought with regard to the scope and nature of the review resulted in delays to its conclusion. I am currently considering these matters, with a view to providing the necessary clarifications to enable Senior Counsel to complete his independent review as soon as possible over the coming months. While I intend to publish the report after having considered its contents, I will only be in a position to confirm this after I have received the report and considered its contents.