An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland is the only independent, non-statutory and charitable body in Ireland that is a listed prescribed body within the planning legislation. It is consulted on certain planning applications that could impact on Ireland’s heritage assets. This is a unique role for an environmental charity and one which An Taisce has been proud to accept since 1963. An Taisce uses this role in Irish planning to advocate for the public good. 

This means that sensitive planning applications must be referred to us by local planning authorities for comment, in cases where the application affects amenity, protected structures, sites of heritage interest, national monuments, nature conservation, and/or planning applications that contain an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement).

Local associations and the national planning staff make observations on about 3,000 planning applications each year. We make around 300 submissions annually to An Bord Pleanala. The number of planning applications we deal with is three times what it was a decade ago.

Recent submissions on planning matters include issues such as the Dublin airport expansion, developments affecting major monuments such as Cahir Castle or developments that would impact on important habitats.

Much of this work is hard and unfashionable. In most cases, history has vindicated us. Because we have no vested interest and because we take the long-term stance, we are confident that history will continue to justify our position. We take the public interest standpoint in planning matters with a heritage, environment, community and quality of life bias.

Read An Taisce's briefing note on Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines here.

Visit An Bord Pleanala's website.

View all An Taisce Planning Submissions and related documents by county here.