Sir, – Prof John FitzGerald’s piece likens Ireland’s planning process to an obstacle course (“Efforts to address critical policy concerns like the housing crisis and climate change are being frustrated by the process”, Business, Opinion, September 1st). However, our 2021 Overview Report on the planning system shows that 34,341 planning applications were granted and 3,995 refused, meaning nine out of 10 get their planning cream! Of course in the context of more than 30,000 applications decided every year, there will always be debate. Our planning process is an open one. Citizens have rights to get their views across. The planning system weighs up all proposals to make balanced and evidence-based decisions in the common good. The vast majority of homes, schools, business premises and infrastructure we benefit from go through planning without much fuss. It is without question that the process has become more complex in recent years – driven largely by the needs to protect an environment that we and Prof FitzGerald all know is under huge climate, biodiversity and qualitative stresses. While European and national measures to protect vulnerable ecosystems may seem to set the bar high, it is also important to remember alarming rates of decline in biodiversity. Difficulties with applications often go back to failures in preparation exacerbated by a planning service that its own chief executives accept is under-resourced by a factor of a third. Straightening the obstacle course will be down to investment, streamlined processes, better training, but above all taking our environment seriously. – Yours, etc,
NIALL CUSSEN,
Office of the Planning Regulator,
Dublin 7.