Guide to the Public Inquiry Process
Background
A Public Inquiry is a procedure used to carry out in-depth investigations on a particularly complex planning application. A Public Inquiry can be:
- called by Department for Infrastructure (the Department), before it issues a Notice of Opinion;
- or requested by the Applicant or Local Council, following the issue of a Notice of Opinion.
The Public Inquiry is overseen by the Planning Appeals Commission (the Commission) who will seek representations from the applicant, the Department, expert bodies and other interested third parties.