An Bord Pleanála chairman blames local authorities for ghost estates

The Chairman of An Bord Pleanála is laying the blame for ghost estates and vacant houses on local authorities.

John O'Connor - speaking at the launch of the agency's annual report for 2009 today - says his warnings against inappropriate large scale developments were largely ignored.

He says the lack of regional and national planning guidelines prior to 2008 also contributed to the problem.

Mr O'Connor accused some of the 88 local authorities of only being focused on securing the maximum level of development in their area, without looking at the regional development objectives.