Gormley urged to apologise over planning inquiry bid

A FIANNA FÁIL councillor has demanded an apology from the Environment Minister for the way he announced a planning inquiry last week.

Cork city councillor Tim Brosnan said John Gormley’s announcement has cast a shadow over Cork City Council.

“I have had my disagreements and issues with our planners in the past,” Mr Brosnan said.

“I didn’t always win the argument but I have no doubt that the operation of Cork City Council’s planning department is beyond reproach.

“The minister mentioned nothing specific. It has cast a shadow over the entire council and he should apologise to the council immediately.”

Mr Gormley announced last week that six local authorities are to be investigated following complaints of planning irregularities.

An independent expert group has been set up to examine complaints made against Cork County Council, Cork City Council as well as Dublin City, Galway County, Meath and Carlow county councils.

Mr Gormley said the experts will examine whether the authorities ignored best planning procedures and went against their own development plans.

He said development plans are a “template” that should not be deviated from because it does not constitute good planning.

Individual planning decisions will not be examined – but rather the processes which enabled such decisions to be made, he said.

Following the investigation, the expert group may call for a full investigation.

But Mr Brosnan said the way the minister announced the inquiry was “downright bad manners”.

He said the announcement was made before Cork’s city manager, Joe Gavin, was informed in writing about the probe.

Mr Brosnan called on the minister to immediately outline in writing his concerns and suggested that city officials should refuse to co-operate with the inquiry until he does so. He also said the minister should examine his own department’s planning policy guidelines issued over the last few years.

“We have 350,000 vacant units around the country. That’s the scandal,” he said.

“This is as a direct result of planning density guidelines set down by his department. “His department’s guidelines allowed developers build high-density apartments no bigger than sardine cans.

“It is these policies, the minister’s own department’s policies, which have led to the chaotic situation we have today.”

Both Cork city manager Joe Gavin and Cork county manager Martin Riordan have each said they have full confidence in their respective planning departments.