Endemic corruption, chaotic sprawl, a legacy of ghost development and widespread environmental degradation — they are just some of the phrases used by An Taisce in its review of planning during the boom years.

Council chiefs in Donegal have accused a leading environmental association of bias after they ranked it bottom of the pile in a league table for good planning.

An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, has today welcomed An Bord Pleanála's refusal of plans for a controversial bypass around Slane village.