PLANS for a large new childcare facility in east Donegal have been overturned after Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) successfully appealed the planned development to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Donegal County Council had granted conditional planning approval in July 2024 for the redevelopment of The River Club premises in Castlefinn into a childcare facility.
The plans included a facility with a maximum capacity of over 100 children and up to 20 staff members. The site is located along the N15 national primary road.
However, following TII’s appeal, An Coimisiún Pleanála has recommended that permission be refused, citing serious road safety concerns.
The planned development relied on access directly from a section of the N15 where a 100 kmh speed limit applies.
Under Objective TO-10 of the Donegal County Development Plan 2024–2030, the council is required to safeguard the carrying capacity and safety of national roads. In addition, Policy CC-P-2 requires that social and community development proposals do not cause a traffic hazard.
An Coimisiún found that the documentation submitted did not prove the new facility would avoid “adverse intensification” of an existing junction onto the high-speed road.
It also cited that in the absence of visibility splays in both directions which were the safety measures recommended in the project’s Road Safety Audit.
In its decision, the planning authority concluded that the development would compromise the safety and free flow of traffic on the national road, potentially endangering public safety.
As a result, it ruled the proposed development to be contrary to proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
