DECISIONS on Donegal’s County Development Plan and the Draft Letterkenny Plan which were both up for consideration at a meeting of Donegal County Council have been deferred.
Councillors met at County House in Lifford where they agreed to hold special workshops at Municipal District level to further consider the draft County Development Plan.
Members outlined a host of concerns and proposals which they feel need to be considered in the plan which will govern the county’s development up until 2030.
The Draft Letterkenny Plan and Local Transport Plan was also on Monday’s agenda and a report on the submissions received during the public consultation on the plan was to be considered.
However, following a meeting of councillors from the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District on Monday morning, it was agreed that the matter would be adjourned until Wednesday, May 10. The Letterkenny members plan to take part in a special workshop on the plan on Thursday, May 4.
The adjournment of that item meant the only matter up for discussion at Monday’s council meeting was the Draft County Development Plan and Environment Report.
During a lengthy debate, councillors spoke on a host of different topics and concerns, many of which related to issues in their immediate localities.
Housing and development, transport, hospitality and tourism, small businesses, climate change and greenways were just some of the issues raised by members.
The preservation of the county’s peatlands and wind energy developments were also discussed while the performance of Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water), and claims that Uisce Éireann continues to hold up development projects in Donegal, were also raised by a number of members.
Towards the end of the meeting Liam Ward, Donegal County Council’s Director of Community Development & Planning Services, said there had been a very good discussion across a range of topics.
“In fairness, the members have raised a number of matters that we are happy to look at,” he said.
Mr Ward said a number of Municipal District workshops will now be organised to address the members’ concerns and specifically deal with the settlement frameworks and the town plans of Buncrana, Bundoran and Ballybofey/Stranorlar.
A full council meeting will take place on Monday, May 29 at which a resolution to the draft plan will be sought, taking into consideration any changes the members wish to have published in the draft plan. The Environment Report will also have to require adjustment and therefore it could be July before that report is presented to members after which the County Development Plan will be considered for public consultation.
The council’s Chief Executive John McLaughlin said he was pleased to see so much engagement and feedback on the various issues from members.
However, he said nobody in the room could answer all the issues raised over Uisce Éireann.
He revealed that only last week, Uisce Éireann had been in contact with Donegal County Council on the future investment needs of the county.
“There are many needs and there are also developments already built that haven’t got sewers,” he said.
“Now we are talking today about going further with the development plan.”
Mr. McLaughlin said the council needs to seek a meeting with Uisce Éireann and the relevant Government department to consider a clear-cut and prioritised plan for Donegal.
“We are doing this with social housing,” he said.
“It makes no sense building social housing without water and sewage. It’s no different for the private sector in terms of their needs.”
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