Planning regulator criticises Galway City Council shortcomings

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – The planning regulator has criticised Galway City Council for shortcomings in its systems and procedures when considering planning applications for houses in environmentally sensitive areas on the east side of the city.

The Office of Planning Regulation (OPR) upheld a complaint against the City Council for not carrying out adequate screening relevant to the EU Habitats Directive when making planning decisions, in particular relating to one-off houses in Roscam.

The regulator – set up following the recommendations of the 2012 report of the Mahon Tribunal to investigate possible systemic planning problems – has told the City Council it must up-skill and provide training for key staff in relation to the Habitats Directive. It has also recommended “revised procedures” to ensure all planning applications are adequately screened for their impact on EU protected and sensitive sites.

The OPR said it would keep an eye on the Council over the next six months when it would include the local authority in a pilot project, and subject it “to a review of the systems and procedures used to deliver planning functions”.

Confirming it upheld a complaint against the City Council, OPR said “the matter does not close here . . . we will continue to engage with Galway City Council in relation to the implementation of the recommendations arising from this case”.

The decision comes following an OPR investigation of a complaint made by Save Roscam Peninsula in June 2019.

Dr Martin Fahy, a spokesman for the group, said: “The OPR’s findings and recommendations will help restore confidence in the planning process and provide the impetus for Galway City planners to address the systemic failings identified.”

The group in its complaint supplied evidence to the OPR from 40 planning cases spanning 20 years in the Rosshill/Roscam Peninsula, including Murrough and up to the county boundary at Oranmore.

The OPR probed a sample of these cases – 12 of the most recent planning decisions – and found that more than 40% gave rise to concern.
This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the story and the OPR’s ruling, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.