The Irish Planning Institute (IPI) — the all-island body for professional planners engaged in physical, spatial and environmental planning in Ireland — has announced the election of four new members as Fellows at the institute’s annual Autumn Planning Conference.

The Government’s grand plan for the future of the country has been branded little more than a “marketing exercise” with most of its promises and a third of its funding previously announced.

Planners have questioned the validity of the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 plan, saying while its promises are welcome, it appears to be focussed on politics instead of focussed on reforms.

There are warnings against "quick fix" solutions to the housing crisis as Minister Eoghan Murphy prepares to outline a number of new measures to tackle the issue.

CALLS for an economic ‘counterbalance’ to Dublin’s bloated overweighting, and for infrastructure investment outside the capital to develop a new tier of cities, have come fast and furious since a strong speech by former Department of Finance head John Moran. 

The Government should consider removing the rights of people to object to proposed developments as it is hugely costly, causes delays, and is not necessary, the Irish Planning Institute’s annual conference heard.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has announced a review of An Bord Pleanála, aimed at ensuring that the planning body is adequately supported to meet future challenges.

Karen Buckley’s family are "absolutely heartbroken"; the government has been called on to hire more professional planners; and a new Star Wars trailer has landed. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

Michael O’Flynn, managing director of one of the largest private construction firms in the country, has called on the Government to reduce or scrap Vat in the construction sector to kickstart private house building.

The Irish Planning Institute has called on the Government to hire more professional planners to avoid planning delays and to ensure the State can capitalise on the fragile economic recovery.

The State needs to double the rate of private house building and build the right homes where people need them, the housing minister has said.

A Danish urbanist has said Dublin must stop making motorists happy and pedestrians miserable.

The forthcoming Planning Bill provides an opportunity to define the term planner for the first time in legislation, writes Mary Hughes

THIS year marks an important anniversary.

Cross-border co-operation on planning issues could bring economic and social prosperity, it was claimed yesterday.

The national spatial strategy — not just the final frontier, but a step too far where the country’s local authorities and planners were concerned.

New directions for physical planning of the built environment post-Mahon Report, along with the future of the country’s ghost and unfinished estates, will come under a planners’ spotlight at month’s end.

An Bord Pleanála should be allowed review local authority development plans and even veto council decisions on land rezoning, the country’s planning association has said.

In the aftermath of the Mahon Report our politicians are still seeking to blame the wrong people for their failings.

Health Minister James Reilly has announced the make-up of the review group to consider the decision of an Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for the National Children's Hospital.

Experts have warned the future build of the National Children’s Hospital could be at risk if the Government fails to include a planner on its special review group.

The country’s most senior paediatricians have warned against downsizing the new National Children’s Hospital to make it fit the Mater site, fearing a smaller building would mean sacrificing vital facilities.

The Irish Planning Institute has called for scores of derelict sites around the country to be turned into low-cost community projects.

TOUGHER inspection laws in Britain make it “highly unlikely” that a situation could arise like Priory Hall in Dublin, where residents had to evacuate the development because of serious fire safety concerns, a building expert has claimed.

Fresh efforts are being made to help young Irish planners, who have been forced to emigrate in search of work.

SOLUTIONS to ghost estates and empty buildings: a developer’s perspective.

ADDRESSING the national conference of the Irish Planning Institute, Ciaran Tracey, planning officer with Leitrim County Council said if the economic conditions that prevailed in the last year do not pick up, it will take “about nine years to clear vacant housing stock in urban parts of the county and God knows how long elsewhere”.

The Minister for Planning Ciaran Cuffe has said badly designed buildings in inappropriate locations will be demolished.

Top planners will join forces today to discuss how to tackle the growing blight of ghost estates.

AS well as a drop in the price of many goods, the recession has other benefits – the ravaged Irish landscape which has been the victim of a huge amount of destruction since the mid-1990’s is getting a break.

NAMA must promote proper planning and sustainable development and not just the best return on land development, the Irish Planning Institute has warned.

Donal Hickey on developers’ failure to deliver services.

DRINKING water supplies for 1.25 million people have failed to meet safety standards — prompting calls for greater accountability of local authorities.

Developers should be forced to pay more towards the cost of local amenities, it was claimed today.

THE Government’s national spatial strategy needs to be radically overhauled because of population trends, a leading think tank said yesterday.

A new report addressing Ireland’s population growth and the challenges it poses will be launched today by professionals in the construction sector.

PLANS to develop a new commuter railway station on Cork’s northside have been approved.

Developers need to make an effort to reach out to the public when embarking on major projects, planners warned today.

THE planning system is at risk of buckling under the pressure of unprecedented development in Ireland, the country’s planners warned yesterday.

Results of a new survey released today have shown that there is a serious lack of planners in Ireland.