The Independent Report on the recommendations in last years Planning Review was published on 8^th March 2013.

The Planning Review, published in June 2012, contained 12 recommendations relating to planning policy and practice which flowed from the analysis of how a range of cases were dealt with by a number of planning authorities. 

The Independent Report reviewed the recommendations contained in the Planning Review and assessed their appropriateness. 

The report supports the appropriateness and effectiveness of nine of the 12 recommendations in the Planning Review as follows:

1. Consolidation of the Planning Acts and subsequent regulations
2. Clarify Section 247 of the Planning Act which is currently open to different interpretations
3. Comprehensive review of the Development Management Guidelines
4. Ensure timely, focused communication of planning policy
5. Dissemination of best practice examples to promote consistency in application of policy
6. Local Area Plan Guidelines should encourage effective widespread public consultation
7. Circular letter to issue to local authorities to stress the need to review planning decisions and policies particularly where such decisions are overturned by An Bord Pleanála
8. Strengthen formal arrangements for Ministerial engagement with the CCMA on planning matters
9. Greater communication of the planning system directly with the public

The report doesn’t concur with three recommendations for the Planning Review. 

• That private landowners or developers be prevented from putting forward Local Area Plans. 
• That there should be a structured dialogue between planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála
• That all proposed grants of planning permission that contravene a Development Plan are automatically referred to An Bord Pleanála for final determination.

The report also proposed three additional actions that weren’t included in the original planning report. 

• That a research project in relation to assess the quality of planning decisions is carried out.  This responds to the fact that the Planning Report dealt mainly with procedural rather than quality issues
• Enhanced use of graphical representation (visual data and models) to address the high degree of discretion in the written statement of the Development Plans.
• Code of conduct for reports by local authority planners  and inspectors in An Bord Pleanála

As judicial review proceedings are ongoing in relation to one section of the Planning Review (that related to Donegal County Council) the independent report does not cover the Donegal section of the report.