Mick Clifford: An Bord Pleanála should revert to original plan

An Bord Pleanála was originally designed to reflect society at large — it doesn't

As a planning appeals organisation, An Bord Pleanála is supposed to reflect society at large. That is how it was designed when it came into being in 1977.

PLANNING is central to how we live and how we plan is a central tenet of democracy. Planning was the source of huge corruption up until journalism and tribunals exposed the worst of it.

Some of the corruption was venial in terms of the money that exchanged hands but often transformative in how it impacted on communities.