A Cork TD has accused the Office of the Planning Regulator of ripping up County Development Plans, and interfering with the decisions of local authorities.
In a question to the Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Dáil, Cork East TD, James O'Connor, said the power of local councillors is being corroded by bodies like Office of the Planning Regulator which, unlike councils, is unelected.
Deputy O'Connor voiced concern at objections by the OPR to the County Development Plan for Carrigtwohill, Bantry and Fermoy.
In response the Minister of State at the Department of Local Government, Deputy Malcolm Noonan said he rejected "outright the use of the term 'interference' in respect of the OPR, and added that "the office plays a critical role in our planning system" and "exists to guide and support the work of local authorities".
In the Dáil, Deputy O'Connor said the involvement of the OPR was insulting:
"We need to make a decision in this country about who runs it. Because we are seeing red tape and now green tape being added to the decision making process around what's zones or what is not. And quite frankly, I think it is insulting to members of Local Authorities in this country and to democratically elected members of this Dáil that we continue to see such gross interference in County Development Plans and Local Authorities across the country."
