Limerick City and County Council has been awarded the prestigious President’s Award at the 2023 Irish Planning Awards, hosted by the Irish Planning Institute (IPI). The accolade recognises exemplary public participation and best practice in planning. The win highlighted the Council’s outstanding efforts in the project 'Young Person Participation in Land Use Planning.'
The IPI, the all-island professional membership body for spatial planners, received an impressive 48 entries for the 2023 Irish Planning Awards, showcasing innovation and excellence in Irish planning. The judging panel, comprised of esteemed professionals in the field, ultimately selected 24 entries across seven categories, with an additional overall President’s Award presented on the night to Limerick City and County Council.
Limerick's triumph in the President’s Award category underscores the success of the 'Young Person Participation in Land Use Planning' project, a ground-breaking initiative that formulated, trialled, and implemented a school consultation program. This program actively engaged young people in the preparation of the development plan and local area plan processes.
Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Gerald Mitchell said the project is a worthy winner:
“The 'Young Person Participation in Land Use Planning' project is an example of success through collaborative planning, setting a standard for future initiatives nationwide. Limerick City and County Council continues to lead the way in innovative and inclusive urban development, making a lasting impact on communities.”
Director of Planning, Environment and Place-Making at Limerick City and County Council, Vincent Murray said of the win:
“We are very proud of our Forward Planning Team in Limerick City and County Council. This project reflects the Council’s community-focused approach and we’re delighted to have our work recognised by the Irish Planning Institute. The programme allows students, to engage with the work of a Local Authority Planner and based on a physical and interactive mapping tool, to influence how the future of their communities are planned for. We feel very fortunate that our Limerick Schools allow us into their classrooms to work with their students. The programme is now an integral part of the plan-making process and ensures the opinions/views of young people are considered in the future planning of local communities.”
Since its inception in 2020, the program has facilitated consultations with over 1,370 students, allowing them to play an integral role in the plan-making process and contribute to the future development of their local area.”
Kieran O’Donnell TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, presented the award during the ceremony, acknowledging the project's significance in fostering meaningful engagement with the youth.