1806. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Office of the Planning Regulator has been requested to examine Tipperary County Council's handling of planning enforcement matters arising from the determination of An Coimisiún Pleanála in a case (details supplied); if any engagement has taken place between his Department, the Office of the Planning Regulator and Tipperary County Council regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61646/26]

The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) is an independent public body which was established in 2019 under the Planning and Development Act 2000, and now established under the Planning and Development Act 2024 to perform the following functions:

independent assessment of all local authority forward planning and regional assembly forward planning, including development plans, local area plans and regional spatial and economic strategies;

reviews of the organisation, systems and procedures used by any planning authority, including An Coimisiún Pleanála, in the performance of any of their planning functions under the 2000 Act; and

conducting national education and training programmes for members and staff of planning authorities and regional assemblies in relation to proper planning and sustainable development; and also conducting research on matters relevant to the OPR’s functions and such other matters as may be requested by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The Office of the Planning Regulator also has a complaints function, however this relates to how planning bodies organise, manage, or deliver their planning functions. For example, the Office may look at complaints of s systemic nature regarding:

• Ongoing or repeated failures to carry out statutory planning functions.

• Serious problems with administrative procedures that lead to major inefficiency or waste.

The Office of the Planning Regulator has not been requested to examine this case. Under Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), as Minister for Housing I cannot involve myself in any planning case.

Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oíreachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for the Office of the Planning Regulator in this regard is oireachtas@opr.ie.