A review of planning issues in a number of local authority areas has found no any evidence of wrongdoing.
A number of recommendations to address what Minister of State Jan O’Sullivan says are deficiencies in the system, have been made.
Former environment minister John Gormley had ordered a full external investigation into issues in seven local authority areas.
This was later downgraded to an internal department review by his successor Phil Hogan.
The review makes a number of recommendations some of which will require legislation.
It also identified what Ms O’Sullivan said were broader themes that need attention including the public communication of planning policy.
She said the review had found no evidence of criminality or corruption, but had found areas that were not well administered.
Ms O’Sullivan insisted that she was not giving the seven local authorities involved a clean bill of health.
Asked about the role of the Independent Planning Expert, she said when appointed, the individual would be able to go back into any of the councils if he or she saw fit.
She described the recommendations as substantial, and said they would radically improve the planning system when taken in conjunction with the Government’s response to the Mahon Tribunals recommendations publication of which was imminent.
