Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
573. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific piece of legislation that makes provision for the roles and functions of the Office of the Planning Regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2058/23]
View answerThe Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) was formally established in April 2019 under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act). The Act provides for the statutory functions and staffing of the OPR.
The OPR has 3 statutory functions provided for under Section 31P of the Act. These functions are:
- Independent assessment of all local authority and regional assembly forward planning, including the zoning decisions of local authority members in local area and development plans;
- Conducting reviews of the organisation, systems and procedures used by any planning authority or An Bord Pleanála in the performance of any of their planning functions under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended); and
- Driving national research, education and public information programmes to highlight the role and benefit of planning.
Section 31N of the Act, provides for the appointment, upon nomination by the Minister and approval by the Government, of a chief executive of the office, known as the Planning Regulator. In accordance with Section 31Z of the Act, the Planning Regulator may appoint up to 3 persons to be a director of the Office, with one director designated to be the deputy Planning Regulator.
In addition to the named roles outlined above, under Section 31AA of the Act, the OPR shall appoint such and so many persons to be staff of the Office subject to the approval of the Minister, given with the consent of the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform.
