The Board of An Bord Pleanála has undergone an organisational review.

Alan Kelly, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, made the announcement.

The Board is an independent body, established initially under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 1976, which is responsible for the determination of planning appeals and certain other matters under planning legislation.

Minister Kelly said: "The Board is a vital part of the planning architecture in Ireland and in the context of the recovering national economy, the further potential expansion of the Board's remit and the increasingly challenging national and EU legislative and regulatory context in which it operates, I consider that now is an opportune time to undertake an organisational review to ensure that it is appropriately positioned for the future."

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It is proposed that the timeframe for the review will be approximately six months, with a view to a report and recommendations being submitted to the Minister by year-end.

An expert and experienced external Review Group will be appointed to undertake this independent review of the Board and will comprise of:

• Mr Gregory Jones, Queen’s Counsel, London (Chair)

• Dr Áine Ryall, The School of Law, University College Cork (Vice-Chair)

• Mr Michael Malone, former County Manager, Kildare County Council

• Ms Mary Hughes, current President of the Irish Planning Institute

(CD/LM)