Overview County Councils and City Councils are planning authorities for their areas. This means that they are responsible for the administration and enforcement of planning and development legislation for their area.Formerly, most Town Councils were planning authorities prior to their abolition under 2014 legislation. Each planning authority is obliged to make a development plan every six years. This is a […]
Regional Plans Regional authorities may adopt regional planning guidelines. In doing so, the authorities take into account proper planning and development and the obligations of the local authorities and governmental policy. Account must be taken of the National Spatial planning spatial strategy. There is a provision for public consultation, similar to that for the development plan. Following consideration of submissions […]
Consistency with Strategies The 2010 Act amends the provisions regarding the making of the development plan. The Minister for the Environment has an increased role. The 2010 Act requires planning authorities to have a core strategy in their development plan. This must demonstrate how the development objectives are consistent with the national spatial strategy and regional planning guidelines. The development […]
Incorporation of Ministerial Guidelines Guidelines may contain specific planning policy requirements with which planning authorities regional assemblies and Board in the performance of their function must comply. A strategic environmental assessment or appropriate assessment assessment as may be required, shall be conducted in relation to the draft guidelines. The Minister may issue guidelines to planning authorities regarding their functions under […]
The Regulator The Office of the Planning Regulator was established under the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018. It is an office with its own corporate existence. The office is independent in the performance of its functions. The planning regulator is appointed by government for terms of five years and must not hold any other office during this period. It […]
Regional Assemblies A significant reform of local government was undertaken in 2014. The most visible effect was the abolition of Urban District Councils and Town Councils. In accordance with the government policy of rationalising local government, the number of regional assemblies was reduced from 8 to 3 The North and Western Regional Assembly comprises Connaught and the counties of Ulster […]
Core Strategy The development plan shall include a core strategy which shows that the development objectives in the plan are consistent so far as practicable with national and regional development objectives set out in the national planning framework and the regional spatial and economic strategy and with specific planning policy requirements specified in ministerial guidelines. The core strategy must provide […]
Department The Department of Housing Planning and Local Government has a central role in planning and environmental matters.The Department formulates policy in relation to planning, housing ,water services and urban renewal. It is successor to the former Department of Local Government and the Environment. It plays a central role in local government issues. The Minister/Department has important functions in relation […]
Strategic Environmental Assessment Strategic environmental assessment is required pursuant to EU directives. It is a system for the evaluation of the environmental effects of implementing plans and programs in advance of their being adopted. It is to address at a higher and more strategic level, the risks of policies which may lead to undesirable environmental outcomes or unsustainable development. The […]
Emergence of Guidelines Ministerial guidelines have played an increasing role in planning since 2000. They may be both advisory and mandatory. Guidelines may be advisory in relaition to matters to which planning and other authorities are to have regard in decision making.Some guidelines may give practical advice on implementing statutory requirements. Mandatory guidelines may be issued which must be implemented […]
Development Plan Time Schedule The Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2021 provides, in response to the disruption caused by restrictions introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, for an additional period for the preparation of development plans required by planning authorities, that planning authorities may extend the duration of existing development plans pending the preparation and making of new development […]