Speaking following the passage of the Planning and Development Bill 2023, a spokesperson for the Irish Planning Institute, the all-island professional membership body for spatial planners said:

“The Irish Planning Institute notes the passage of the Planning and Development Bill 2023 through the Dáil. This is one of the largest, most complex and far-reaching pieces of legislation ever to come before the Oireachtas and it has been subject to significant amendment since it was introduced nearly a year ago.

“Having engaged with the process throughout on behalf of our members, the Irish Planning Institute will now review the final legislation and we will continue to work collaboratively with the Department and the Government to ensure that the revision of the regulations required to implement this legislation is carried out as effectively and efficiently as possible. Alongside this we will continue to advocate that sufficient planners are in place to deliver on the intent of the Bill.”

“Our members are the professional planners working throughout the public, private and semi state sectors that are crucial to the implementation of the new legislation. The Irish Planning Institute will be delivering training to them, and other key stakeholders such as Councillors, to ensure that they are ready to work with the legislation to advance proper planning in the interests of the common good.”