Sir, - In the light of recent announcements concerning "nixers" the latest "scandel" in planning - the Irish Planning Institute would like to draw attention to some of the realities of the Irish planning system.
First of all, let us keep a sense of proportion. At its most innocent, a "nixer" involves an official doing some drawings on a Saturday afternoon. Hardly the stuff of scandal. It is, however, not acceptable as it is contrary to terms of employment and can lead to a more serious issue if the scale of the work grows and - most seriously - if it leads to conflict when the official reports on his/her own planning application.
It is also largely missed, that the "nixerism" in planning largely involves professions other that planners. Planners are not trained in this area. The plans they draw involve maps rather that construction drawings; they are spatial rather than structural, but the planning system, and by implication the planner, gets the blame. - Yours, etc.,
Stephen Dowds M.I.P.I., Secretary, Irish Planning Institute. Merrion Square, Dublin 2.