Planning regulator ‘to end bad practice’ in county councils

The Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new planning regulator after a lack of transparency, poor record-keeping and some irregularities in the planning process were found in a number of county councils.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly yesterday published a report into failures in standards at six local authorities, including Cork city and county councils.

Cork County Council was found to have had “a lack of transparency in relation to meetings and other contacts” between council officials, planning applicants or their agents and councillors and TDs.