Clare County Development News Today

The Chair of Clare’s Social Housing Committee fears local authorities could be made irrelevant if their powers continue to be diminished. A new Council of Europe report has described Ireland as “one of the most centralised countries in Europe”, citing local authorities’ limited decision-making powers, insufficient financial resources and restricted autonomy as concerns. The role […]

A Clare TD fears newly-proposed planning legislation will lead to “an erosion of democracy” if zoning powers are taken away from local authorities. Cabinet has passed the Planning and Development Bill which is aimed at bringing “greater clarity, certainty and consistency to how planning decisions are made”. The new bill, which could become legislation by […]

Its claimed amendments to the county development plan must be urgently reversed to prevent the demise of rural Clare. It follows a special meeting of the local authority, during which this county’s Oireachtas members have pledged to take action, after the Minister of State for Planning deemed that parts of the plan were ‘inconsistent with […]

A West Clare organic farmer claims a planning application for a wind farm development near Kilrush is in contravention of the Clare County Development Plan. Mark Wilson-Pierce has formally objected to the proposed development submitted by Ballykett Green Energy Limited on a number of environmental and consultation-related grounds as well as due to the close […]

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD (FF) has criticised Clare County Council for excessive zoning of lands for housing in its new Clare County Development Plan. The members of Clare County Council adopted their new County Development Plan 2023-2029 at a special meeting last month after public consultation that commenced back in […]

An Bord Pleanála has given the green light for the single largest ever private housing scheme proposed for Ennis. The appeals board has given the green light for plans by Glenveagh Homes for a €65 million 289 unit scheme on the outskirts of the town despite Clare County Council recommending a refusal and some local opposition. […]

Calls have been made for the Clare County Development plan to be adjusted to account for a surge in population over the past two years. It follows a warning from the Minister for Integration that the Government needs to prepare for more than 80,000 migrants, who plan on seeking refuge in Ireland this year. Clare […]

ENNIS residents' concerns over “haphazard development” and vacant homes at St Flannan’s Terrace have prompted calls for ‘Development and Design Guidelines’ to be drawn up for the area.

COILLTE is planning a second East Clare wind farm development, as part of a joint venture to develop a renewable energy generation facility between Broadford and Sixmilebridge. 

THERE is no prospect of the second phase of the Northern Distributor Road going ahead, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has said.