Planning

‘Darragh O’Brien’s bill does nothing’ – No one is happy with overhauled planning laws

Industry frustrated that laws not radical enough, while campaigners warn change restricts access to justice for residents

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien: his new Planning and Development Bill has left each side asking, who is this for? Picture: Collins

Flanked by cabinet colleagues and with Government Buildings as his backdrop, Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien last Tuesday unveiled what he hopes will be a landmark overhaul of the country's fundamentally broken planning rules.

"It is vital we embed structural changes to our planning system to help tackle the many challenges we have and this Bill represents a major step in achieving this," O'Brien said.

Faced with a fine balancing act of delivering on that plan ...