Councils 'miss planning process targets'

Eight local authorities have not complied with Government rules to improve developer-led planning, a new report has revealed.

Planning and Housing Minister Jan O'Sullivan warned council officials she will crack down on them to ensure planning mistakes of the Celtic Tiger remain a thing of the past.

"We intend to make sure that the planning process is appropriate," said Ms O'Sullivan.

"That it's in the interest of the general public and not developer-led.

"We intend to make sure that at all levels that planning is evidence-based. That it is properly carried out."

The recent publication of the Mahon report, which found corruption between developers and officials during the 1990s, has prompted the Government into revising the planning system.

Calls were made under recent legislation for city and county councils to carry out reviews of their maps, following the boom when stretches of land were often rezoned despite being inappropriate for a new use.

But eight local authorities have not completed the process within the timeframes set, which Ms O'Sullivan described as concerning.

The minister said she will write to the authorities - which include city councils Donegal, Carlow, Longford and Westmeath - this week to remind them of their legal obligation under the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010.

"I note, with some concern, that there are still eight city and county councils who, while having started the core strategy process to review their zonings, have not completed that process within statutory timeframes," Ms O'Sullivan said.

"I will be communicating with the chairs and managers of these local authorities in the days ahead to ensure that the legislation is complied with."

She added that the councils in question will be consistently monitored to make sure they comply with guidelines.

More than 42,000 hectares of land were zoned for housing in 2009, which led to an oversupply of 4.5 times the actual need.

By reviewing zoning, the Government hopes to get that down to just more than 11,000 hectares, which it claims will meet future housing needs.

"In 2009, this is evidence of the Celtic Tiger era gone mad. It is evidence of the enormous mistakes of the past," Ms O'Sullivan went on.

"The public are concerned about planning and I think it's mainly on the back of the Mahon report.

"They are right to be concerned on the Mahon report, which did find corruption between developers and officials."

Last week, the minister ruled out plans to end investigations into planning matters in seven local authorities across six counties - Donegal, Galway, Carlow, Meath, Cork and Dublin.

Former Environment Minister John Gormley announced investigations in June 2010 before the outgoing Fianna Fáil and Green Party Government left office.

Current Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin accused the current Government of shelving the investigations, following the publication of the Mahon Report in which former members of his own party were linked to corruption.

But Ms O'Sullivan argued that neither Mr Gormley nor his successor Eamon O Cuív launched a formal inquiry.

She added that her predecessor Willie Penrose ordered an internal inquiry into the matters and that should it recommend further investigations, they will be carried out.

Meanwhile, Ms O'Sullivan also launched a new website that gives information on the planning system.

Myplan.ie includes details of the hundreds of development plans in process throughout the country, ensuring greater transparency in the system.

"Needless to say the publication of the Mahon Tribunal's findings have significantly heightened the importance of not only ensuring, but demonstrating that Ireland's planning system is open, transparent and compliant with legal requirements," she added.