The Ombudsman has found that the Department of Planning and the Central Planning Authority are abusing their power by "slavishly applying" a section of the law, knowing it to be faulty and prejudicial.
Sharon Roulstone said, the department, despite knowing the issues has done nothing about it.
The department is also abusing the legal process by allowing multiple applications for the same developments. The outdated notice system has long been known to be problematic.
The Ombudsman's findings reflect concerns in the community about the arbitrary, unfair, and opaque process followed by the planning department.
Author's summary: Ombudsman finds planning department abusing power.