Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2017
535. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the body with which a person can lodge a complaint against a local authority that is acting in breach of planning permission on a building in its ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40439/17]
View answerIf any person considers that they have been adversely affected by a planning authority's action, or lack of action, which he or she considers was unlawful, unfair or unreasonable, or considers that he or she has received an inadequate service from the authority, it is open to him/her to make a complaint to the Ombudsman, provided that he or she has complained to the planning authority in the first instance. The Ombudsman's role in planning matters is confined to the examination of the administration of the planning process by planning authorities and to their enforcement of the planning laws in instances where planning breaches arise.
Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case, including an enforcement issue, with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
