Tipp planning applications

Tipperary Co Council received a total of 624 planning applications between January 1st and May 31st 2017.

Of these, 184 were deemed invalid and 17 were withdrawn. During the period, 404 applications were decided with 391 being granted planning permission and 13 being refused. Further information was requested in 176 cases.

Commenting on the volume of planning applications at last week's meeting of Tipperary Co Council, Cllr Michael Smith (FF) questioned whether the planning section is adequately staffed. Cllr Smith spoke of long delays with processing applications and said it is “unfair†to place a heavy workload on planning staff.

Director of Services Karl Cashen said the council has its full complement of planning staff. There has been an increase in the number of planning applications “but not significantly soâ€, he said. Mr Cashen did not however rule out revisiting the staffing situation in the future should the need arise.

Senior Planner Brian Beck informed the meeting that the current planning refusal rate in Tipperary is low at 2-3%.