Clonmel hosts annual conference of the Irish Planning Institute

The annual conference of the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) took place in Clonmelon Thursday 20th & Friday 21st April at Hotel Minella.

The theme of the two-day event was reform and delivery, with sessions over the two days focusing particularly on the Planning and Development Bill and town centre regeneration. 

Kieran O’Donnell TD, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage attended and delivered the keynote address. Representatives from Tipperary County Council also addressed the conference including Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council Cllr. Roger Kennedy and Deputy Chief Executive Sinead Carr and discussed topics such as town centre regeneration. 

The conference highlighted the lack of planning resources, the growing demands on planning and the positive opportunity for planning reforms. A particular focus is the need to rise to the opportunity that exists to ensure that the next generation of planning will be properly equipped to deal with increasing demands. 

Key attendees and speakers across the two days included: 

Kieran O’Donnell TD, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage 
Mary Mac Mahon, President of the Irish Planning Institute
Oonagh Buckley, Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála 
Niall Cussen, Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Planning Regulator
Cllr. Roger Kennedy, Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council 
Sinead Carr, Deputy Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council