Gormley denies planning decisions invalid

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley has dismissed suggestions that more than 1,000 planning appeal decisions made four years ago are legally invalid.

His reaction came after it emerged a member of the board retired in October 2004 and was not replaced until late January 2005.

Under the legislation governing An Bord Pleanála in 2004 it had to be properly formed, representative of various social interests and consisting of seven members and a chairman.