Gormley investigation - Planning inquiries are long overdue

OUR planning system has been under a cloud for decades. Votes on rezoning land have often been preceded by bribery dressed up as political donations.

How could it be otherwise? The sums involved are – or at least were – spectacular, and no matter how virtuous we imagine ourselves we would foolish to pretend that any process that can lead to such tremendous profits would be free from inappropriate or corrupt influences. That is the case in most countries in the world, why should it be any different in Ireland?

It is how we respond that might set us apart and, to date, our response has not been persuasive.

Yesterday’s announcement by Environment Minister John Gormley that the planning policies of six local authorities is to be reviewed may signal the kind of oversight needed to protect a culture of good planning.

The intervention should be welcomed and supported.

Mr Gormley says that individual decisions will not be examined, but rather the processes and systems which enabled such decisions to be made. Nevertheless the significance of the initiative should not be underestimated as it will decide whether the local authorities involved ignored best planning practice, or their development plans, or both.

This is the fraught point where local democracy and local authorities meet. It is difficult to see how Mr Gormley’s investigation will not end in a confrontation with councillors who believe that their mandate entitles them to make decisions contrary to professional advice. Their record, however, suggests that they have questions to answer.

Just weeks ago city councillors in Cork City ignored the advice of the city manager and city planners and voted to support GAA plans for an €40 million refurbishment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

One councillor described the lobbying he experienced before that vote as “the most intense ever”.

Though local democracy had its say was the best decision reached? Mr Gormley’s investigation may be able to tell us if it was or not.

As late as yesterday a Labour councillor warned about rezoning any more land on the northern side of Cork city for residential development. Labour councillor John Gilroy pointed out that there are up to 90 unfinished housing estates in the region. A recent CSO report suggested that about 16% of houses in the county are unoccupied, so why rezone land for more development?

These problems are replicated right across the country and are at the root of so many social and environmental problems that they cannot be ignored.

They have not been ignored by the office of the Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly. Earlier this year her office said it had discovered “systemic” problems and inconsistencies in how planning legislation is applied.

Her report cited denying public access to crucial records on pre-planning meetings and consultations held prior to major planning decisions. The Ombudsman surveyed nine local authorities and found they all take a different approach.

It can only be a matter of time before this investigation is criticised or undermined by those with something to lose, but their arguments should be rejected. Poor planning and rezoning were at the very centre of the storm that has beggared this country and any measures that will prevent a recurrence are to be welcomed.