Draft Press Release
7 June 2005
Re: County Donegal Draft Development Plan 2005 to be published this week
On Tuesday next (14 June 2005), Donegal County Council will publish the County Donegal Draft Development Plan 2005 on foot of an extensive period of consultation which started last July.
Donegal County Council has a statutory obligation to prepare a County Development Plan for the county under Section 11 and 12 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2004. The County Donegal Draft Development Plan sets out a broad range of policies and proposals for land use in the county and once adopted by the full Council will be used to guide future development and investment priorities over the next number of years.
Clr. Patrick McGowan, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council stated that “this Draft Plan contains an extensive package of policies and proposals that will promote the development of the County in a balanced and sustainable way” and added that “it is important that the rural character of the County is maintained and enhanced while at the same time developing a competitive location to attract investment and protect the environment”.
Clr. McGowan said that “this is a Draft Plan and as such it is necessary for people to take the time over the next few months to consider the contents of the Plan and how it relates to them”. Copies of the Draft Plan will be available for inspection during opening hours at the Planning Office in Lifford, at each of the Public Service Centres in Letterkenny, Carndonagh, Milford, Dungloe and Donegal Town, at the Executive Engineers office in Ballybofey and at all branch libraries. The Draft Plan can be purchased at each of these offices at a cost of €50. It is also available on CD-Rom at a cost of €10 or alternatively it can be downloaded from the Council website at www.donegal.ie .
Donegal County Council is urging members of the public, community interests and other organisations to review this Draft Plan over the Summer months. A number of public workshops and drop in sessions are being arranged in each of the Electoral Areas and people are encouraged to come along and have their say.
Gerry Richards, Senior Planner with Donegal County Council stated that “these types of events have proved successful in the past as they give people a chance to share their views with the Elected Members and Council Officials and provides people with an opportunity to closely review maps and information relevant to their own areas”. Public workshops and drop in sessions will take place in the coming weeks and will be widely publicised in each local area.
Gerry Richards also urged people to submit their views in writing and stated that “the most effective way for people to put their point of view forward is by writing to the Central Planning Unit in Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford or by emailing planreview@donegalcoco.ie. All written submissions should be marked ‘The County Donegal Draft Development Plan 2005 – Submission’ and must be received by 30 August 2005.
The County Donegal Draft Development Plan 2005 aims to address a number of critical issues affecting the county including the decline of traditional industries such as textiles, agriculture and fishing, the relatively high level of unemployment, existing infrastructural deficiencies, rural depopulation and housing and maintaining the strong cultural identity of the Gaeltacht areas”.
END
For further information contact:
Anne Marie Conlon
Communications Officer
Donegal County Council
Tel: 074 91 72574
Mob: 087 9192275
Email: amconlon@donegalcoco.ie
Or
Mr. Gerry Richards
Senior Executive Planner
Donegal County Council
Tel: 074 91 72307