Independent Planning Expert to Evaluate the Planning Review Report

Minister for State at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Jan O'Sullivan, T.D. has announced the proposed appointment of Mr. Hendrik Van Der Kamp as the independent planning expert to evaluated the Planning Review Report, which was published in June 2012. The review took into consideration application of planning legislation, policy and guidance at local level.

Mr. Van Der Kamp has been working in the Irish planning system for the last 30 year and is currently Head of the School of Planning at DIT Bolton Street. 

The Minister outlined, ‘The appointment of Mr. van der Kamp is to fulfil my commitment to have the Planning Review Report evaluated by an independent planning expert. While I have accepted fully the review completed by my Department, I am ensuring that the process, the report and its findings stand up to independent scrutiny by ensuring that all actions and recommendations and the full review on which they are based are to be considered by Mr. van der Kamp.“

The report outlines 12 actions that will address the current deficiencies in the planning system.

An Taisce have welcomed the appointment of Mr. Van der Kamp saying "An Taisce is aware of the calibre of Mr van der Kamp and looks forward to meeting him so that we can explain our original complaints, which until now we have been unable to do, as the compilers of the Planning Review Report asked the planning authorities for their side of the argument but never contacted us as to the reasoning behind our complaints. "