Eugene Waters

Principal Officer and Head of Strategic Planning Performance and Innovation Unit within the Planning Division. In this role, he has responsibility for leading a wide portfolio of strategic initiatives to support enhanced delivery and optimisation of Ireland’s planning system.

This includes the development and implementation of Ireland’s first National Planning Excellence Framework, which will establish the key attributes of a high performing planning system, monitor performance and identify areas where support or improvement is required.

He also leads on digital innovation initiatives, including the national roll-out of e-Planning services throughout all of the Local Authorities and the development of a National Digital Planning System, which aims to drive efficiency, consistency and accessibility in planning services nationwide.

In addition, he has responsibility for planning enforcement improvement, in particular in relation to unauthorised activity in the areas of quarries and peat extraction as oversight of the review of planning fees and coordination of planning related research.