Planning inquiry to focus on councillors’ actions

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley’s planning inquiry will focus on the involvement of councillors in pre-planning decisions and their relationship with local planning offices over the past two years.

The Irish Examiner has learned that while the review is being used to ensure local authority structures can cope with the requirements of the new Planning Bill, a series of questions surrounding practices at city and county councils will also be examined.

It is understood concerns have been raised over planning issues at Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Dublin City Council, Galway County Council, Meath County Council and Carlow County Council, all of which are now under review.