The Republic of Ireland is a nation state and member of the European Union.

It has its own parliament which sets planning legislation, subject to the application of European Directives on matters such as environmental impact assessment that apply to it.

• Click here to access the government of Ireland portal.
• Click here to access the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which is responsible for the national administration of the planning service, planning legislation and policy development. 

There is a national strategic planning framework - the national spatial strategy - which can be accessed from here.

More detailed information about the planning legislation and policies set at the national level can be accessed from here.

Plan making and development management decision making takes place at county or city level - through 29 County Councils, 5 City Councils, 5 Borough Councils and 75 Town Councils. Plan making is reserved to the elected members, whereas most development management (decisions on planning applications) are delegated to county/city managers.  An independent board - An Bord Pleanala - exists to hear appeals against the refusal or grant of planning permission and the application of conditions.  This provides rights of third party appeal that are not found in the UK - meaning that people other than the applicant for planning permission can appeal a planning decision.

8 Regional Authorities co-ordinate some of the county/city and sub-county activities and monitor the use of EU structural funds. 2 regional authorities, known as Regional assemblies were established in July 1999 under new structures for regionalisation. They promote co-ordination of the provision of public services in their areas and perform an EU monitoring role.

The Republic of Ireland is covered by the Southern Division of the RTPI Ireland Branch.

• Click here to access the branch web pages.

Author:

Rynd Smith

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

03-Jul-09

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