Deirdre Fallon has been elected as President of the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) Institute for 2016 and 2017. The IPI is the all-island body for professional planners engaged in physical, spatial and environmental planning in Ireland.

Commenting on her election Fallon said “It is a great honour to be elected President of the Irish Planning Institute at a crucial time. The forthcoming election, new National Planning Framework, proposed Office of the Planning Regulator and the results of the review of An Bord Pleanála will all shape Ireland for the long term and I want to ensure the expertise of professional planners is listened to. The National Planning Framework in particular must integrate with other relevant issues such as landscape and energy policy. It should be accompanied by an open debate about the sort of Ireland we want and the strategic locations that can support economic and residential growth. It is also a time of ongoing change in Northern Ireland presenting new opportunities and challenges for planners.”

Fallon continued “Planning plays a key role in quality of life and I want the planning system to be proactive in the delivery of the right development in the right place with adequate infrastructure. Research conducted by the Institute in 2015 shows that the number of planners in local authorities has decreased by a third. It is critical at this time that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála are adequately resourced if planning delays are to be averted and the current opportunities for economic growth not missed. A commitment should be given to ramping up recruitment where there is a shortage of professional planners.”

Fallon concluded “I will continue the Institute’s work to bring clarity to the term planner to emphasise that professional planners have appropriate qualifications and subscribe to a code of ethics. This would increase public confidence in professional planners by making their knowledge and ethical obligations clear. During my term the Institute will also develop a new Corporate Plan with members to establish the strategic priorities for the Institute over the coming years, ensuring the organisation remains fit for purpose and responsive to the changing environment for planning and planners.”

Deirdre Fallon is a planner with over 10 years experience. She holds a BA, a Masters in Regional and Urban Planning and a Masters of Science in Geography, Planning and Environmental Policy from University College Dublin. She worked with Louth County Council and in planning consultancy prior to joining Meath County Council in 2007.