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<p>Since its inaugural meting in December
2019, the ICLRD has been participating in the National Planning Knowledge Group
which acts as an advisory board to the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR)
in meeting its statutory mandate in relation to education, research and
training.&nbsp; The Group includes experts
from third level institutes, planning authorities, planning representative
associations and relevant state bodies.&nbsp; The
ICLRD is delighted to represent Maynooth University on the Knowledge Group,
together with <a>AIRO.&nbsp; </a><a href="#_msocom_1">[CC1]</a>&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Key OPR initiatives to date where the Group
have played a key role include:</p>
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<ul><li>the Planning Research Framework
and associated Strategic Planning Research Programme (see <a href="https://www.opr.ie/research/">https://www.opr.ie/research/</a>), with the
key goal of the framework being to ” to develop an effective research programme
that addresses the gaps in planning theory and practice, supports best practice
in the planning system, facilitates greater public understanding and
participation, and develops necessary tools and applications for practitioners
and researchers”; and</li><li>the Online Planning Library (<a href="https://www.opr.ie/planning-library/">https://www.opr.ie/planning-library/</a>)
which brings together a broad range of planning policy guidelines and research
in one central, accessible location.</li></ul>
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<p>The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR)
was established in January 2019, having been provided for under the Planning
and Development (Amendment) Act 2018.&nbsp; The
appointment of an independent Planning Regulator with oversight of the planning
system in Ireland was one of the key recommendations of the Mahon Tribunal.</p>
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