‘Evidence Of Success’: Planning Authority Responds To All The Wrong Parts Of Irrestawra Darek Controversy
The Planning Authority has responded to the controversy surrounding the Irrestawra Darek Scheme in a statement “categorically denying” that any architects were given preferential treatment by having the scheme open earlier than noon.
“The Authority can confirm that the scheme opened at noon as agreed with the Kamra Tal-Periti” said the PA.
Kamra Tal-Periti was not comforted by this denial – and spoke out yesterday against the PA’s “disregard for the profession”.
“The scheme wasted a full week of work of several architecture studios, with the risk that disappointed customers may blame their architects for their unsuccessful attempts at applying, rather than the preposterous application system adopted by the PA, and not pay them for their services.”
The Kamra Tal-Periti did not claim that some architects had been given preferential treatment.
“Over 200 different Periti submitted applications for this scheme within minutes of its opening” continued the PA statement.
“The PA had to close the scheme due to high demand and the number of applications submitted that went over the allocated money for this scheme.”
Though there has been a significant public backlash since the scheme launched – before almost immediately glitching out and closing – it is unclear who the PA was responding to in this statement, as there have not been widespread claims of any specific architects having been given preferential treatment.
The majority of complaints were against the website’s inability to handle a predictable influx of applications, the scheme’s budget limiting the maximum possible number of successful applicants, and the “first-come-first-served” basis upon which reimbursement allocations will be reliant.
In fact, the PA statement concluded with the Authority patting itself on the back.
“The strong response for this scheme is evidence of the success this scheme has achieved over the past years.”
Do you think what occurred was a reflection of the PA’s success?
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