The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has begun its review of some of the systems and procedures used by An Bord Pleanála (ABP) to carry out its statutory planning functions.

The review had been signalled earlier this month by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien.

The review will look at the robustness and effectiveness of decision-making practices, the organisation of work, and governance arrangements within the planning body’s board.

It will cover the board’s decision-making practices – including how it handles potential conflicts of interest, and how case files are allocated and assigned.

‘Urgent need’ to restore confidence

The watchdog said that the review would take place in two stages, due to the “urgent need” to put in place measures to restore confidence in ABP.

The first part will be led by Conleth Bradley SC, and will include Paul Cackette (formerly head of the Scottish Government’s Legal Directorate, and Chief Reporter of the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals), and John McNairney (former Chief Planner to the Scottish Government).

This will be completed on or before 3 October 2022.

Part two of the review will be carried out by Paul Cackette and John McNairney, and will be completed on or before 30 November.

Both stages will be working under the OPR’s director of planning reviews Gary Ryan.

Reviews to continue

The OPR said that ABP would also be included in the OPR’s continuing programme of general reviews, “with discrete modules addressing various focused areas of performance to be scheduled on a regular cycle over time”.

The review comes after the minister earlier this month referred a report on certain decisions made by ABP to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), an Garda Síochána (AGS) and the Standards in Public Office (SIPO).

Minister O’Brien said that he had taken the decision on the advice of the Attorney General.

Last month, the deputy chair of An Bord Pleanála, Paul Hyde, resigned. He had earlier stood aside temporarily amid allegations of conflicts of interest.