MINISTER FOR the Environment John Gormley has warned councillors in Donegal that he will "use his powers of direction" if they approve the relaxation of certain planning restrictions in favour of builders.
Councillors have proposed to include a "small local builder policy" to allow developers to build more houses in the countryside. The proposal is included in the draft variation to the Co Donegal development plan.
A submission from the Department of the Environment was included in a copy of the county manager's report on the proposed draft variation.
In his report, county manager Michael McLoone said the Department of the Environment was concerned about the "fairness and probity" of a policy that would involve transferring development rights to named individuals.
"The policy discriminates in favour of a particular group and is not consistent with planning policy and sustainable development," Mr McLoone said. "It would furthermore set a clear-cut undesirable precedent for sporadic, unco-ordinated development in the countryside."
Separately, Annagry-based Labour activist Séamus Rodgers has called on the two main political parties to explain the rationale behind a proposal to increase the county's holiday home quota.
The question was also asked by a number of members of the public who made submissions on the draft variation.
Mr Rodgers accused councillors of caring more about vested interests than public opinion.
Others to oppose the increase include organisations such as tourism body Fáilte Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Donegal County Council's heritage officer.
Representatives of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have formally proposed to increase the holiday home quota in Donegal by 50 per cent.
According to the county manager's report, more than 90 per cent of submissions from members of the public were against the proposed increase in the quota.
More than 330 submissions have been received by the council. Of these, 306 were in relation to the holiday-home issue; of that figure, 287, or 91 per cent, were against the proposed increase, with just 19 in favour.
"Public opinion has been firmly expressed in regard to the problems and issues relating to increasing the number of holiday homes," Mr McLoone said in his report.
Community group Pobal Ghort a' Choirce said the draft variation was a "charter for developers". "Who is looking for the increase, who is putting on the pressure and why?" the group asked.
The Irish Times
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