Planning

Housing Minister warned of risk in replacing Bord Pleanála members

Irish Planning Institute raises concern over future technical and environmental expertise at troubled organisation

Darragh O’Brien has set out a number of actions aimed at reforming the planning body, which descended into turmoil earlier this year. Picture: RollingNews.ie

The current process of replacing members of An Bord Pleanála could undermine the already troubled planning body by prioritising budgetary constraints and human resources over expertise, an expert group has told Darragh O’Brien, the Minister for Housing.

Resources at the authority, which is dealing with a growing backlog of cases and low morale, are set to be bolstered shortly with the appointment of civil servants from various government departments to the role of temporary board ...