Development plan · Donegal County Council
County Donegal Development Plan 2024–2030 (As Varied)
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Donegal County Council · 2024–2030 · 783 pages
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- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 188 Chapter 9 Natural Resource Development exempted developments subject to criteria specified in the Statutory Instruments (SI 83 of 2007 and SI 235 and SI 256 of 2008). Glenveagh National Park: Zone of Visual Influence:- The environmental and visual character of Glenveagh National Park consists of the geographic extent of the park and its immediate environs. The implementation of the relevant policy should not be interpreted as relating to lands with limited physical or visual connection to the park. The onus is on the applicant to demonstrate the extent of the potential impact a proposed wind energy development has on the National Park.
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 189 Chapter 9 Natural Resource Development 9.2 Extractive Industry and Geology 9.2.1 Background Aggregates are a significant and necessary natural resource for the continued economic development of Donegal including job creation and are essential materials for construction industry. The Plan needs to make provision for the sustainable and appropriate extraction of aggregates including clays, gravels, sands, stone, and aggregates subject to compliance with pertaining legislation and guidelines. Specifically, factors that must be considered in order to minimise the impact of any extractions include, but are not limited to noise, vibration, dust, water quality, the North-west River Basin Management Plan, natural and cultural heritage, landscape, and waste materials. Aggregate is the collective name for natural rock and gravel deposits and mapping of Aggregate Potential in Ireland is prepared by the Geological Society Ireland and is widely available online.20 This mapping can assist in the identification of locations of certain aggregates throughout the county but is not to be construed as locations where extraction would be appropriate in the round. The Minerals Development Act 2017 governs the exploration for, and extraction of minerals. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is responsible for the issuing of Prospecting Licences to undertake mineral exploration in Ireland, these licences are normally renewed every 6 years permitting prospecting only and not extraction. At present there are four prospecting licences within the county21. The DECC is also responsible for the issuing of mining lease or licences, these also require planning permission and an Integrated Pollution Control licence (from the EPA) before extraction can proceed. The extractive industries shall also be guided by the DEHLG Quarries and Ancillary Activities Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2004 and the EPA Environmental Management in the Extractive Industry (non-scheduled minerals) 2006. Proposals for extractive industries are encouraged to have regard to the Donegal Climate Adaptation Strategy, 2019-2024. The Waste Management (Management of Waste from the Extractive Industries) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No 566 of 2009) requires each Local Authority to establish and maintain a register of all extractive industries within its functional area including the extraction, treatment and storage of mineral resources, the working of quarries, and the extraction, treatment and storage of peat. At present there are in the region of 170 identified quarries in the county, these can be viewed live on the council website at www.donegalcoco.ie. ‘The Geological Heritage of Donegal’ was published in November 202022 and is an audit of County Geological Sites in County Donegal. The audit is a compilation of the following 2 reports: • An audit of County Geological and Geomorphological Sites in north Donegal and • An audit of County Geological and Geomorphological Sites in south Donegal 20 www.gsi.ie 21 www.donegalcoco.ie 22 www.gsi.ie
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 190 Chapter 9 Natural Resource Development Objective EX-O-1 To facilitate extractive industries subject to the protection of residential and natural amenities, the prevention of pollution, and the safeguarding of aquifers and groundwater. Policies EX-P-1 It is a policy of the Council that the principle of proposed new extractive industries shall generally be accepted where such deposits exist save: a. for the following areas/designations where such development shall not be supported: i. Areas designated as Especially High Scenic Amenity; ii. Designated Natura 2000 sites, Natural Heritage Areas, Nature Reserves or other areas of importance for the conservation of flora and fauna; or iii. Areas of significant archaeological potential. b. In the following scenarios, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that the development would not have significant adverse impacts on the amenities or the environment; i. identified Views and Prospects, Greenways, Blueways and tourist routes. EX-P-2 It is a policy of the Council to only support development proposals for extractive industry developments where such proposals identify relevant robust and effective mitigation measures in respect of the anticipated environmental impacts of such development in accordance with the DEHLG Quarries and Ancillary Activities Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2004 and the EPA Environmental Management in the Extractive Industry (non-scheduled minerals) Guidelines, 2006. Such impacts to be considered shall include: noise and vibration; dust deposition/air quality; water supplies and groundwater; natural heritage; landscape; traffic and roads impact; cultural heritage; waste management; environmental management systems; and site restoration plan. G-P-1 It is a policy of the Council to protect County Geological Sites (CGS). Accordingly, the Council will adopt a precautionary approach to development proposals with the potential to impact upon a CGS. Proposals should be accompanied by a detailed report from a competent person setting out the potential impact to ensure that an informed decision can be made. Where significant harm to the CGS is deemed likely, planning permission will not be granted unless there are overriding considerations of public importance to the County.
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 191 Chapter 9 Natural Resource Development
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 192 Chapter 10 Tourism Chapter 10 - Tourism 10.1 Background Tourism is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry and biggest regional employer with 254,000 people working in tourism and hospitality businesses. Tourism is estimated to be worth €8.2 billion to the Irish economy, €2.9 billion from the domestic market and €5.3 billion for international visitors.23 Tourism is a key driver of economic growth in Donegal and the county has a reputation for delivering world-class tourism services and attracting visitors from all over the island of Ireland but also from many overseas destinations including the UK, USA, and mainland Europe in particular. Over the past number of years Donegal has been recognised as a leading destination for visitors with the following accolades being bestowed on the county and its attractions: — Lonely Planet named Donegal as the 4th Best Region in the World to Visit in 2023 — ‘Coolest Place on the Planet’ by National Geographic Traveller in 2017 — ‘Ireland’s Hidden Gem’ by readers of the Irish Independent Travel Magazine in 2017 — Donegal Airport voted ‘Most Scenic Airport’ by PrivateFly — Donegal Town named as ‘Ireland’s Best Foodie Town’ by the Foodie Destination Awards in 2019. Donegal is renowned for its rich and diverse tourism offering including its rugged coastal landscapes, a wealth of sandy and blue flag beaches, windswept mountains, the highest accessible sea cliffs in Europe, one of the largest collections of inhabited and uninhabited offshore islands, varied natural habitats, vibrant cultural life and Gaeltacht areas, and rich built heritage. The Wild Atlantic Way (WAW) extends along the entire 1134 km of Donegal’s coast. The county hosts 37 discovery points (21% of the entire WAW) and 3 key signature discovery points including Sliabh 23 ITIC – Review 2023 and Outlook 2024
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 193 Chapter 10 Tourism Liag, Fanad Lighthouse and Malin Head. Donegal possesses a wealth of world-class tourism assets, including, but not limited to those listed in table 10.1 below 24. Table 10.1: Donegal Tourism Attractions and Visitor Numbers Key Tourism Attractions in County Donegal (2021) Visitor Numbers Sliabh Liag Cliffs 167,528 Malin Head 92,924 Glenveagh 87,113 Fanad 64,529 Oakfield Park 49,000 Glencolumkille Folk Village Museum & Heritage Centre 32,500 Doe Castle 28,097 Doagh Visitor Centre 25,000 Donegal Craft Village 20,000 IOSAS - Celtic Gardens 20,000 Lurgybrack Open Farm 20,000 Fort Dunree An Grianan of Aileach Errigal The tourism sector is a critical component of economic activity in Donegal accounting for an estimated 13% of jobs in the county in 2018, that were directly dependent on the tourism and hospitality sectors. The Northern Ireland market has always been of extreme importance to the county in terms of inward tourism and the potential therefore exists to encourage ‘regionality’ by attracting visitors to the North West Region. There is also significant potential in terms of encouraging seasonality through the tourism product and extending the season. 10.2 Policy and Trends Nationally it is a primary tourism objective of the government to maximise revenue centred on Ireland achieving its full potential as a destination for overseas tourism and similarly the domestic tourism sector, setting out the following 3 primary goals: 1. By 2025 revenue from overseas visitors will increase to €5 billion in real terms. 2. Tourism related employment will increase from 200,000 at present to 250,000 by 2025. 3. Reach 10 million annual visits to Ireland by 2025.25 Regionally the development of the WAW touring route is a key driver of the strong growth in visitor numbers to the county over the last decade, highlighted by Fáilte Irelands recent publication of a 24 Fáilte Ireland Visitor Attraction Figures 2021 25 Government’s Tourism Strategy ‘People, Place and Policy Growing Tourism to 2025.
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 194 Chapter 10 Tourism draft Wild Atlantic Way- Regional Tourism Development Strategy 2022-2026. The strategy sets out an ambition to drive recovery and growth into the Wild Atlantic Way region striving to recover and grow the visitor economy creating sustainable high-quality jobs that aim to support and strengthen local communities while protecting the natural and built environment. The Donegal County Council Tourism Strategy 2022-2026 reflects the above referenced national and regional aims and objectives setting out a strategy for the County that prioritises the core principle of sustainability and ensuring that tourism developments and operations in Donegal provide full protection and preservation of the rich natural resources and unique socio-cultural heritage of the County while maximising the economic benefits for all in Donegal. It sets out the importance of achieving a balance to ensure that benefits outweigh the costs and ensuring that tourism adds to the quality of life of residents in a particular destination. The primary goal is to boost visitor counts, lessen seasonality, and improve visitor spending and dwell time. It also identified Donegal as a ‘primary destination’ on the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland, offering a unique visitor experience. Interest and participation in outdoor recreational activities has surged in popularity particularly in a post Covid-19 environment where the value of the great outdoors has become a key defining reason for people to choose Donegal as a holiday destination, and the county’s natural assets (coastline; rivers and lakes; cliffs and waterfalls; and hills, valleys and mountain ranges) are characterised by a growing number of self-guided and organised recreational activities. Failte Ireland’s Tullan Strand Centre for Water Sports Activities, Bundoran and Downings Sports Activity Facility projects funded under its Platforms for Growth programme are examples of the interest in this sector. The Outdoor Recreation Strategy for Donegal provides a roadmap to inform the sustainable development and management of outdoor recreation over the next 5 years, whilst still preserving the ecological and culturally rich land and waterscape that is unique to Donegal, and upon which outdoor recreation depends. In addition to supporting tourism product expansion and development, the council will support the identification and prioritisation of investment in key tourism supporting infrastructure to service growing visitor numbers. Such supporting infrastructure could include the facilitation/provision of sustainable transport modes, development and maintenance of walking and cycling routes and infrastructure, mobility access, signage and public conveniences as examples. The council shall support a review to assess and prioritise investment locations at sites where such investment would: • reduce congestion and/or mitigate against environmental degradation • address identified infrastructural deficiencies • act as a catalyst to grow tourism revenues in the wider catchment Caravanning and Camping is estimated to generate €1.8m in site rental fees annually with indirect revenues/benefits valued in the region of €4.5m to the Donegal economy26. There are specific infrastructural requirements for caravan and camping developments and the Council shall require the provision of infrastructure at identified and permitted caravanning locations including safe site access, signage, waste & recycling facilities, toilets/showers, water sources, information panels and motorhome facilities as examples. 26 Donegal County Council Caravan, Camping and Campervan Study 2021, KPMG
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 195 Chapter 10 Tourism Festivals and Events Festivals are key motivators for local, domestic and international consumers, as they increase both dwell time and economic impact. Festivals also play a significant role in animating destinations, and whilst smaller festivals may not be the single reason why visitors travel to a location, they can be a significant contributor to their enjoyment of their holiday experience as they create vibrancy and ‘something to do’ as part of their stay. Festivals in Donegal play a key role in particular with the county benefiting from funding through the Regional Festival Fund and also having four nationally funded festivals. Destination and Experience Development Failte Ireland advises that the key to unlocking the growth potential of an area is the development of experiences that will motivate potential visitors to firstly visit there and secondly to dwell in the area. These new experiences are less concerned with visitors passively seeing or doing things; they encourage visitors to immerse themselves actively in the locale, interacting with people, engaging the senses, and learning the history and stories of the places. Fáilte Ireland’s response to this challenge has been the creation of a framework to develop and deliver ‘Destination and Experience Development Plans’ along with strengthening Destination towns. This approach identifies the key assets of an area and provides a framework to present the experiences and stories of that area in a way that visitors can readily and easily understand. It clearly identifies tangible actions and a process for businesses to shape their respective tourist experience(s) in line with the overall experience brand proposition and the key motivating themes for their area. There is a total of 16 no. DEDPs in the Wild Atlantic Way region with a number of plans either in progress or at the plan implementation stage. The Wild Atlantic Way Tourism Development Strategy 2023-2027 notes that DEDPs will be implemented for the Inishowen Peninsula, West Donegal & the Islands and for South Donegal.
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 196 Chapter 10 Tourism 10.3 Key Planning Challenges The many opportunities for tourism development within the county and the provision of their sustainable development translate into several key planning challenges which need to be overcome to achieve Donegal’s tourism potential, namely: • Protecting the key landscape resource which underpins the tourism product from inappropriate development. • Facilitating the development of a wide range of tourism products and attractions which support the visitor experience by providing a wide range of things to see and do (activity based tourism and engaging with the landscape) and thus increase visitor dwell time in a manner consistent with the brand identity of the Wild Atlantic Way. • Improving visitor infrastructure throughout the county. • Protecting the approaches to key tourism attractions and enhance visitor access to same. • Protecting the natural environment. • Protecting historic and archaeological sites and artefacts including maritime heritage. • Protect cultural and linguistic heritage, particularly in the Gaeltacht. • Improving the social and economic vibrancy and vitality of settlements. The market desire to provide accommodation adjacent to rural attractions must be balanced with the objective of sustaining and regenerating the County’s towns and villages. • Protecting and enhancing the built heritage and the vernacular character of the county within rural and urban areas. • Protecting the routes and visual settings of existing and potential greenways, recreational walkways and cycling routes. • Facilitating the protection and improvement of access to and within the county including, public transport, road, air and sea access to Donegal. • Facilitate the improvement of infrastructure necessary to support and further strengthen tourism potential and in particular the cruise ship market in Killybegs. 10.4 Other Relevant Policies in Plan The tourism sector is an important consideration for the management of areas of development addressed elsewhere in the Plan, inclusive of the following: • Strategic roads, airports, greenways and other forms of active travel and railway development; • Harbours and piers; • Built heritage; • Natural heritage ‘Biodiversity’ and ‘Landscape’; • The Gaeltacht . Objectives TOU-O-1 To facilitate the sustainable development of Donegal’s tourism product as a key economic driver of, and social catalyst for the County, whilst protecting and enhancing the County’s landscape, natural heritage, built heritage, and communities from inappropriate development that would detract from the tourism product.
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 197 Chapter 10 Tourism Policies TOU-P-1 a) To support the implementation of the WAW Regional Tourism Development Strategy 2023-2027; b) To facilitate the development of signature/strategic tourism experiences/attractions which are consistent with the brand identity of the Wild Atlantic Way and other similar initiatives, and attractions, for example as identified in Table 10.1, and are generally in accordance with the policies of this Plan; and c) To work in collaboration with Failte Ireland to ensure the continued maintenance of the 39 Discovery Points, inclusive of the 3 signature Discovery Points, in Donegal and access routes for all users. TOU-P-2 Not to permit development which would materially detract from visual and scenic amenities along the route of the Wild Atlantic Way. TOU-P-3 Not to permit developments which would materially detract from the visual/scenic amenities on the approach roads to, the visual setting of, or the views to be had from, significant tourism attractions. TOU-P-4 To support the principle of tourism and recreational activities that will harness the potential of the river systems in Donegal and the region (including the Rivers Finn and Foyle), subject to environmental considerations including the Habitats Directive. TOU-P-5 To: a. Support the principle of resource- related/activity-based tourism developments (e.g. walking, cycling, horse riding, fishing/angling, watersports, outdoor pursuits, craft/cultural/interpretive centres) throughout the County, but excluding Especially High Scenic Amenity areas, where it is demonstrated that i. the core of the proposal constitutes a demonstrable tourism product; ii. the said product is functionally-dependent on the resource which is being harnessed, or is activity-based; and iii. the development has wider economic benefits for the community. b. Support the principle of: i. On-site accommodation units in conjunction with the core tourism business providing the tourism product; ii. A small retailing element or café/restaurant which is ancillary to, and functionally dependent on, the core tourism product (such as gift shop, equipment shop); and iii. Supporting ancillary infrastructure. TOU-P-6 That: a. the principle of the acceptability or otherwise of proposals for standalone tourism-related accommodation developments shall be determined in accordance with the following table; and b. such developments shall generally only be acceptable where they can demonstrate compliance with the specific requirements identified in the last column of the table below and the detailed criteria set out in Policy TOU-P-8 and other relevant policies of the Plan.
Source Donegal County Council: County Donegal Development Plan 2024–2030 (As Varied) (2024–2030) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.