Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
667. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding planning matters in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13257/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe audit of accounts of all local authorities is required to be carried out by the Local Government Audit Service under the Local Government Act 2001, as amended. In undertaking the audit of local authorities, local government auditors are independent in the exercise of their functions. I understand that all annual financial statements for Carlow local authorities to year ended 31 December 2013 have been audited. MacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants were appointed in February 2014 to carry out an independent planning review on the performance of planning functions in six selected planning authorities (Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath County Councils and Cork and Dublin City Councils) in accordance with section 255 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The planning review is being informed by the consideration of planning matters referred to the Minister by a number of stakeholder groups and individuals including the planning issue referred to in the question.
I expect to receive the final report from the consultants shortly and I subsequently intend to publish it having considered its contents.
