The Law Reform Commission has received 31 heavyweight submissions ahead of its review of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO).

A spokesman said that well-researched analysis has been received from 31 stakeholder bodies countrywide, including the Irish Farmers’ Association, An Bord Pleanála, Government departments and TDs, semi-state bodies, landowners, agricultural consultants and valuers.

“These submissions contain serious research and analysis and are being examined in full,” the spokesman said.

The commission is expected to deliver its report late this year or early in 2020.

Clarification

The LRC is examining the consolidation, clarification and reform of the rules and principles on compulsory land acquisition.

The current CPO regime is regarded as complex, lengthy and financially costly, with law derived from many different pieces of legislation.

Compensation

A variety of CPO rules apply for electricity, railway and roads. Under the current system, land may be valued some years before compensation payment is actually made, which can result in losses to either the landowner or the State, given fluctuations in property prices.

The LRC is believed to be considering an ‘equivalence principle’, whereby valuation and compensation would be carried out simultaneously.