Development plan · Monaghan County Council
Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Monaghan County Council · 2025–2031 · 376 pages
Ask this document
Answers come only from the text of Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031, each claim linked to its page. They are not advice; check the page itself.
Free, with a daily limit.
- 8.1.2 SURFACE WATER QUALITY Degradation of water quality largely occurred between the mid 1970’s and the late 1990’s and today a significant number of water bodies in County Monaghan are now assigned a status of ‘less than good’. Pressures on water quality include urban waste waters, agriculture, unsewered properties (commercial and domestic), landfills and extractive industry, hard surface runoff, siltation, alien invasive species, use of pesticides and morphological changes (drainage etc). County Monaghan’s surface water quality is poor by national standards as factors such as the drumlin topography, soil types and hydrology, contribute to water quality problems. Eutrophication of waters (i.e. excess enrichment by phosphorus) is widespread and whilst some promising improvements in river phosphate and ammonia levels are evident, lake recovery from eutrophication will take a considerable time. Excess soil phosphorus may also contribute to eutrophication and nutrient balancing. Nutrient management planning is a key tool in addressing this issue. Despite the improvements in some of the general conditions of river water quality, the biology of river and stream habitats remains impacted. Restoration of water quality is a complex process which requires an integrated catchment management approach and the implementation of measures as set out in Ireland’s River Basin Management Plan. The protection of good and high-status water quality where it exists is a key requirement of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Blue Dot waterbodies are those which have, or have the capacity to have, the highest water quality and it is Ireland’s ambition to preserve and protect them and to restore them where necessary through the implementation of the RBMP and the Blue Dots Catchment Programme. The maps section on www.catchments.ie provides water body status information relative to County Monaghan as well as Map 8.1 Sensitive Surface Waters included in this Development Plan. Environment, Energy and Climate ActionEnvironment, Energy and Climate Actionintroductionchapter 01Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031Environment, energy and climate actionchapter 08 AFA NAME LOCAL AUTHORITY LEAD AGENCY OBJECTIVE INCLUDES BLUE DOT IN THE AFA Scotstown Blue Dot Monaghan County Council Monaghan Protection Yes County Council Truagh GWS Monaghan County Council NFGWS Protection N/A Avaghon Monaghan County Council LAWPRO Restoration N/A Blackwater (Monaghan) Monaghan County Council LAWPRO Restoration N/A Bunnoe GWS Monaghan County Council NFGWS Restoration N/A Clontibret Stream Cor River Monaghan County Council LAWPRO Restoration N/A Dromore (Upper) Monaghan County Council LAWPRO Restoration N/A Drumgole GWS Monaghan County Council NFGWS Restoration N/A Glyde-Proules Monaghan County Council LAWPRO Restoration N/A Kilroosky Lough Cluster Monaghan County Council LAWPRO Restoration N/A Maghery Monaghan County Council LAWPRO Restoration N/A Annalee East Cavan County Council LAWPRO Restoration N/A Mountain (water) Monaghan County Council LAWPRO Restoration Yes and Emy Lake Oram Churchill GWS Monaghan County Council NFGWS Restoration N/A TABLE 8.1 LIST OF PROPOSED AREAS FOR ACTION IN COUNTY MONAGHAN Note: Monaghan County Council has made a submission on the draft RBMP 2022-2027 to have Lough Muckno catchment area included as an Area for Action (AFA) to be led by Monaghan County Council. 199
- 200 FIGURE 8.1 RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLAN PROPOSED AREAS FOR ACTION IN COUNTY MONAGHAN Source: LAWPRO 8.1.3 GROUNDWATER PROTECTION An unseen element of water is groundwater, moving beneath us, feeding surface waters and wells. Currently about 30% of the County’s public water supply comes from groundwater. Groundwater quality in County Monaghan is generally good. The risk of contamination is higher where shallow, free draining soils exist and in areas of karstified limestone, as found in the Carrickmacross area. Groundwater requires protection under the RBMP. The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) in collaboration with the Council have drawn up the ‘Groundwater Protection Scheme Reports for County Monaghan Public Supply Sources’. Guidance on the Authorisation of Discharges to Groundwater was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2011 and any development proposing to discharge wastewaters to soil or directly or indirectly to groundwater will need to take account of this guidance. Details of groundwater status can be found at www.epa.ie and in Maps 8.2 Sensitive Ground Waters and Landfills and 8.3. Areas of Natural Vegetation, Wetlands and Wet Soils included in this Development Plan. Figure 8.2 provides a spatial representation of ground water vulnerability in County Monaghan. Other useful references include www.gsi/mapping Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
- 201 FIGURE 8.2 COUNTY MONAGHAN GROUNDWATER VULNERABILITY Source: Geological Survey Ireland 8.1.4 ACHIEVING WATER QUALITY TARGETS Ireland is currently in the latter stages of preparing the third cycle RBMP 2022-2027. The third cycle plan includes a programme of measures to protect and where necessary restore each one of the 4,842 bodies of water so that they are at least reaching ‘good’ status or ‘good’ potential by 2027 (with some limited exemptions). Implementation of the RBMP will require setting priorities, with a higher priority being given to Priority Rivers for Action, Drinking Water Sources, High Status Waterbodies, Special Protection Areas and At-Risk Waterbodies. In addition, the ‘no deterioration’ objective of the management plan applies to all water bodies. The transposition of the new 2020 Drinking Water Directive will also provide the opportunity to implement a more comprehensive and robust approach to drinking water source protection. Environment, Energy and Climate ActionEnvironment, Energy and Climate Actionintroductionchapter 01Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031Environment, energy and climate actionchapter 08
- 202 8.1.5 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT AND WATER QUALITY Development management can play a significant role in the prevention of further deterioration of water status and in the protection of existing high and good quality waters. Water protection measures are best incorporated into site selection and site design plans. Therefore, developers should adequately assess environmental risks, take account of site limitations and prepare a water protection plan. Site selection should take account of sensitive areas and sensitive water bodies. Water protection plans should aim to prevent contamination of storm water, minimise soiled and waste waters, install proper containment for material storage, install appropriate treatment and disposal arrangement for soiled and waste waters and take account of legal requirements for discharges to ground and surface waters. Soft engineering solutions such as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) should be integrated into drainage system designs to enhance water quality protection. Developments in the vicinity of waterbodies should include appropriate river riparian corridors and in-stream works should be avoided. Where necessary, in stream works should be carried out under the guidance of the Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) document ‘Requirements for the Protection of Fishery Habitat During Construction and Development Works at River Sites’. The IFI should be consulted prior to the submission of any plans involving works close to waterbodies. All planning applications shall be accompanied by a completed Water Protection Plan Checklist (Refer to Appendix 6) and site drainage plan, to help identify aspects of the development which are likely to pose a risk to water. While guidance on water protection is available from a number of sources, developers will also need to seek professional advice and assistance in the preparation of plans and in assessing measures to deal with wastewaters. Sediment pollution is an issue impacting a significant proportion of water bodies. A Construction and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) which includes soil management and water protection measures for the construction phase is a vital component of water protection. The preparation of the plan is critical in water protection during the construction phase. Developments generating trade effluents (wastewaters) or discharging domestic type wastewater in unsewered areas may be subject to the discharge licensing system under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 and 1990. Such developments need to address requirements of the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Waters) Regulations, 2009 (S.I. No 272 of 2009) and the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater Regulations, 2010 (S.I. No 9 of 2010) for the entire site. All wastewater discharges, including storm water discharges which come within the scope of the Wastewater Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations are required to be licensed. Incorporation of water conservation measures into developments would contribute to minimisation of wastewater generation. 8.1.6 INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE AND LAND SPREADING OF MANURES AND SLUDGE In the second cycle RBMP the catchment characterisation process found agriculture to be a significant pressure on ‘At Risk’ waterbodies. In the most recent EPA characterisation assessment on the impacts of pressures on water quality which used data up to 2021 and was published in May 2024, agriculture has been identified as the most prevalent significant pressure, impacting over 1000 waterbodies or approximately 60% of all waterbodies ‘At Risk’ of not achieving their environmental objective under the Water Framework Directive. County Monaghan is noted for its intensive agricultural activities, and it benefits significantly from its successful poultry and mushroom industries. Substantial quantities of broiler litter, layer manure, spent mushroom compost and other intensive agricultural manures are dependent on off-site disposal. Grasslands counties, such as Monaghan, have limited spreading opportunities, and have many sensitive water bodies and substantial areas of wet soils and soils with high runoff risk. In addition, the demand for nitrogen and phosphorus in many grassland farming situations can largely be met by on-farm bovine manures. Excess nutrients, chemicals such as pesticides as well as sediment loss due to poor land management have all been identified as likely pressures on water quality. Impacts are evident in all catchments but are most prevalent in the eastern half of the County particularly where there are poorly drained soils and subsoils. Investment in this industry continued to grow in County Monaghan through the ‘Food Wise 2025’ strategy. A new Agri-Food Strategy – Food Vision 2030 was adopted in 2021. Its vision is that Ireland will become a world leader in ‘Sustainable Food Systems’ (SFS) over the next decade. This will deliver significant benefits for the Irish agri-food sector itself, for Irish society and the environment. In demonstrating that the Irish agri-food sector meets the highest standards of sustainability (economic, environmental, and social), Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
- 203 this will also provide the basis for the future competitive advantage of the sector. The sustainable development of this industry depends on quality waste management systems that take account of nutrient balances, sensitive water bodies, topography and soil conditions. Applicants for planning permission or Integrated Pollution Prevention Control licensing or Industrial Emission Licensing should refer to Maps 8.1 Sensitive Surface Waters and Map 8.2 Sensitive Groundwaters and Landfills. Applicants should consult with the Local Authority in relation to sustainable utilisation arrangements for pig and poultry manure as well as spent mushroom compost. 8.1.7 AMENITY LAKES AND RIVERS A number of lakes and rivers in County Monaghan are currently used for paddling, bathing, water safety training and water sports. Whilst these lakes and rivers are not currently designated for bathing Monaghan County Council monitor these amenity lakes and rivers during the bathing season from June to September. The key amenity lake areas are: k EMY LOUGH, EMYVALE k HOLLYWOOD LAKE, SCOTSTOWN k GORTNAWINNY LOUGH, CLONES k DROMORE RIVER AT COOTEHILL (also known as Halton’s River) k LOUGH MUCKNO, CASTLEBLAYNEY k CREEVY LAKE, CARRICKMACROSS k GREAGHLONE LAKE, SHERCOCK k THE BEACH, LOUGH MAJOR, BALLYBAY Development management measures will take account of the protection and improvement of amenity lakes and bathing waters. Such waters are sensitive to pollution in general and particularly to microbial pollution. Blue green algae have become an increasing risk to the quality of rivers and lakes, which results from excessive nutrient levels in waterbodies, primarily from agricultural runoff and sewage. Many wastewater treatment technologies do not currently remove microbial contaminants and the impact of new or expanding developments need to take account of public health issues relating to bathing areas and drinking water sources. Land spreading of manures is another source of microbial contaminants and land spreading arrangements should take account of additional measures to protect known amenity areas. 8.1.8 PREPARATION OF WATER PROTECTION PLANS Developers should prepare detailed site drainage plans, using the Water Protection Plan (WPP) Checklist in Appendix 6, and refer to the maps of sensitive areas and appropriate regulations prior to the submission of a planning application. Where a development is located in a sensitive area, additional risks to waters should be comprehensively addressed. The cumulative effects of developments in sensitive areas should also be addressed. 8.1.9 THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES WATERS PROGRAMME The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) is a shared service working with Local Authorities and State Agencies to develop and implement RBMPs in Ireland, as required under the EU Water Framework Directive. The core focus of this work is to protect and improve water quality in rivers, lakes, and groundwater. The three strategic aims of the programme are as follows: k Support and coordinate public bodies and other stakeholders to achieve the objectives of the RBMP. k Activate local communities to engage with river catchments in line with the integrated catchment management approach. k Build a foundation and momentum for long-term improvements and inform the development and implementation of the third cycle RBMP. Integrated Catchment Planning has been identified as a key measure in the third cycle RBMP. Catchment Plans will be put in place for each of the 46 hydrometric catchments as sub-plans to the National Plan. Building over time into fully integrated catchment management plans, the initial level of detail to be included in these plans will be decided based on templates produced by LAWPRO, in consultation with stakeholders. It is envisaged that each Local Authority will also prepare a county level implementation plan as part of this process to give action to the objectives of the national catchment plans. These plans will also provide a basis against which to assess implementation of measures through annual reports. Environment, Energy and Climate ActionEnvironment, Energy and Climate Actionintroductionchapter 01Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031Environment, energy and climate actionchapter 08
- 204 WPO 1 To protect known and potential groundwater reserves in County Monaghan. WPO 2 To support the implementation of the relevant recommendations and measures as outlined in the relevant River Basin Management Plan, and associated Programmes of Measures, and any new or updated/subsequent versions. WPO 4 To encourage the use of catchment-sensitive farming practices, and take cognisance of departmental guidance, in order to meet Water Framework Directive targets and comply with the relevant River Basin Management Plan. WPO 5 To prevent river fragmentation and to encourage where possible the connectivity or the re-connectivity of fisheries waters in consultation with Inland Fisheries Ireland. WPO 6 To support the application and implementation of a catchment planning and management approach to development and conservation, including the implementation of Sustainable Drainage System techniques (SuDS) for new development with consideration given to the guidance document ‘Planning for watercourses in the urban environment’ published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (2022). WPO 7 To encourage collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including government departments, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Irish Farmers Association with the aim of facilitating sustainable development related to intensive farming. WPO 8 To protect waterbodies and watercourses from inappropriate development, including rivers, streams, associated undeveloped riparian strips, wetlands and natural floodplains. This will include protection buffers in riverine and wetland areas as appropriate with consideration given to Inland Fisheries Ireland’s guidance document ‘Planning for watercourses in the urban environment’ (2020). WPO 9 To protect drinking water from the effects of development, in collaboration with relevant statutory authorities, including Uisce Éireann and Northern Ireland Water Ltd. WPO 3 To contribute towards the protection of existing and potential water resources, and their use by humans and wildlife, including rivers, streams, groundwater and associated habitats and species in accordance with the requirements and guidance in the EU Water Framework Directive 2000 (2000/60/EC), the European Union (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 (as amended), the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Waters) Regulations 2009 (SI No. 272 of 2009) (as amended), the Groundwater Directive 2006/118/EC and the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations, 2010 (S.I. No. 9 of 2010) (as amended) and other relevant EU Directives, including relevant transposing regulations and policy guidance and any new or updated/subsequent versions. WATER PROTECTION OBJECTIVES Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
- 205 MAP ID NAME SCHEME USER 1 Lough More Truagh GWS 2 Emy Lough Glaslough/Tyholland GWS Emyvale/ Glaslough PWS Amenity and Bathing Area 3 Lough Antraicer Tydavnet GWS 4 Kilcorran Lough Aughnashelvy GWS 5 Greagh Lough Monaghan PWS 6 Corcaghan Lough Monaghan PWS 7 Corconnelly Lough Monaghan PWS 8 Skerrick Lough Clones PWS 9 Carnroe Clones PWS 10 Feagh Newbliss PWS 11 Annaghmackerrig Lough Drumgole PWS 12 White Lough Stranooden GWS 13 Crinkill/Toome Lough Doohamlet GWS 14 Milltown Lough/Muckno Mill Lough Churchill/Oram GWS 15 Lough Nagarnaman Donaghmoyne GWS 16 Lough Namacharee Corduff GWS 17 Lough Bawn System Lough Egish RWS 18 Baraghy Lough Baraghy GWS 19 Killyenagh Lough Bunnoe GWS 20 Greaghlone Lough/Comertagh Lough Magheracloone GWS 21 Spring Lough Carrickmacross Public Water Scheme 22 Moynalty Lough Kilanny Public Water Scheme 23 Fane River Inniskeen Public Water Scheme 24 Ross Lough Newry Public Water Scheme 25 Lough Egish Lakeland Dairies 26 Dromore River Abbots Ireland 27 Hollywood Lake Amenity and Bathing Area 28 Dromore (Halton’s River) Amenity and Bathing Area 29 Avaghnon Lough Amenity and Bathing Area 30 Lough Muckno Amenity and Water Sports 31 Creevy Lough Amenity and Bathing Area 32 Gortnawinny Lough Amenity and Bathing Area 33 The Beach, Lough Major, Ballybay Amenity and Bathing Area TABLE 8.2 SENSITIVE SURFACE WATERS (REFER TO MAP 8.1 SENSITIVE SURFACE WATERS) TABLE 8.3 PRIVATE ABSTRACTION POINTS (REFER TO MAP 8.1 SENSITIVE SURFACE WATERS) MAP ID NAME 25 Lakeland Dairies Lake Abstraction 26 Abbott Ireland River Abstraction Environment, Energy and Climate ActionEnvironment, Energy and Climate Actionintroductionchapter 01Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031Environment, energy and climate actionchapter 08
- 206 MAP ID TOWNLAND SCHEME USER 1 Bragan Bragan Water 2 Well at Packie McCaffrey's Tydavnet GWS (Not used by scheme) 3 Well at Eamon McKenna's Tydavnet GWS 4 Forge Tydavnet GWS 5 Well at Jimmy McElwaine's Tydavnet GWS 6 Well at Eddie McKenna's Tydavnet GWS 7 Well at Vinny McCaffery's Tydavnet GWS 8 Well at Freddy Carban's Tydavnet GWS (On GWS land-not connected to network) 9 Well at Pat Woods Tydavnet GWS (On GWS land-not connected to network) 10 Cappog/ Terrytole Monaghan PWS 11 Drumbenagh Monaghan PWS 12 Crosses Monaghan PWS (Not in Use) 13 Lambes Lake/Telaydan Monaghan PWS 14 Ballyalbany/Telaydan Monaghan PWS (Not in Use) 15 Kilnadreen Monaghan PWS (Not in Use) 16 The Wood/Kilnadreen Monaghan PWS 17 Silverstream/Cavanreagh Monaghan PWS 18 Roosky Monaghan PWS (Not in Use) 19 Corhollan Grove Turkeys 20 Templetate 1,2 Smithboro PWS 21 Largy Feldhues 22 Teehill Allied Beef Producers 23 Coolnacarte Clones/Scotshouse PWS 24 Cavanreagh Clones/Scotshouse PWS 25 Killyvaghon Eugene Hillis 26 Tullybuck Clontibret PWS 27 Corcreagh Celtic Pure 28 Spring Lake Carrickmacross PWS 29 Monanney Carrickmacross PWS 30 Nafferty Carrickmacross PWS 31 Killanny Killanny GWS (Not in Use) 32 Donaghmoyne Carrickmacross PWS 33 Nafferty Rye Valley Foods TABLE 8.4 SENSITIVE GROUNDWATERS (REFER TO MAP 8.2 SENSITIVE GROUNDWATERS AND LANDFILLS) TABLE 8.5 CLOSED LANDFILLS (REFER TO MAP 8.2 SENSITIVE GROUNDWATERS AND LANDFILLS) MAP ID LOCATION OPERATOR A Killycronaghan Monaghan County Council (Closed) B Derryarrilly Monaghan County Council (Closed) C Letterbane Monaghan County Council (Closed) D Corkeeran Monaghan County Council (Closed) E Killycard Castleblayney Town (Closed) F Tiragarvan Carrickmacross Town (Closed) Reference should be made to the County Monaghan Groundwater Protection Scheme, Vulnerability Mapping and Groundwater Response Matrix. Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
- 207 8.1.10 PUBLIC WATER AND WASTEWATER The responsibility of public water supply and wastewater services was transferred to Uisce Éireann, formerly known as Irish Water, in 2014. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, Uisce Éireann is responsible for the operation of public water services, management of national water assets, maintenance of water infrastructure, planning and investment, and capital projects. Uisce Éireann, therefore, has a significant role and interest in the protection of water quality. The provision and maintenance of quality wastewater treatment infrastructure is critical in the interest of sustainable development and the protection of water quality. Uisce Éireann is responsible for the treatment and disposal of wastewater in towns and villages. Uisce Éireann’s operations will be regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who set environmental standards which must be complied with in respect of the provision of waste-water infrastructure. Monaghan County Council will co-operate with Uisce Éireann to provide and maintain an adequate public water supply and waste water infrastructure network to serve the County over the lifetime of this Development Plan and beyond. 8.2 ENERGY The availability of a reliable, sustainable and cost effective energy resource is vital to ensuring transport, communications, heating, cooking and for the production of goods and services. The move to a more diverse mix of energy resources reduces the exposure of the economy to price fluctuations and provides greater security of energy supply. It is recognised that renewable energy infrastructure can have multi-tiered employment benefit which have a unique ability to underpin and strengthen the local rural economy and provide direct employment during construction and operational phases. 8.2.1 ENERGY PERFORMANCE In the Annual Report on Public Sector Energy Performance (2022) prepared by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DoECC), public bodies are required to report on progress toward this target on an annual basis through the SEAI Monitoring and Reporting (M&R) system. Monaghan County Council achieved 52% improvements in energy efficiency between the baseline in 2015 and the annual report in 2022. By December 2021, energy efficiency improvements of 52% had been achieved and Monaghan County Council has therefore already achieved the targeted efficiencies for 2030. However, the ultimate goal now is to become climate neutral no later than 2050. 8.2.2 EU LEGISLATION Energy efficiency helps to reduce overall energy consumption and is therefore central to achieving the EU’s climate ambition, while enhancing present and future energy security and affordability. The ‘Energy Efficiency Directive’ (EED) (EU/2023/1791) and the guidance issued to Member States which pertains to the revised Renewable Energy Directive (2023/2413/EU), commonly known as RED III, significantly raises the EU’s ambition on energy efficiency, and it also sets out the exemplary role that the public sector has in contributing to this EU target. Additionally, the following legislation must be adhered to: k EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EU/2023/1791) k EU Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) k European Green Deal (2019) k Paris Agreement (2015) k Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), effective in 2024 PWWO 1 To liaise with Uisce Éireann to establish source management and protection zones around drinking water supply sources and advance appropriate management and maintenance measures for these sources (both ground and surface water). PWWO 2 To co-operate with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes to improve the quality and capacity of water supply to areas served by group water schemes. PWWO 3 To support Uisce Éireann in the development and implementation of Drinking Water Safety Plans which seek to protect human health by identifying, assessing and managing risks to water quality and quantity; taking a holistic approach from source to tap. PUBLIC WATER AND WASTEWATER OBJECTIVES Environment, Energy and Climate ActionEnvironment, Energy and Climate Actionintroductionchapter 01Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031Environment, energy and climate actionchapter 08
- 208 8.2.3 NATIONAL LEGISLATION Improved energy efficiency and decarbonisation continue to be national imperatives and are key enablers in Ireland meeting its national and international energy and climate goals and objectives. The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DoECC) is responsible for enacting a range of energy policies and measures to promote the delivery of a more sustainable energy system for Ireland. The latest national policy statement on sustainable energy is Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030. The Programme for Government (2020) sets out a commitment to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2021-2030 (a 51% reduction over the decade) and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The strategic importance of public sector energy efficiency is not only underlined in the Programme for Government but also Irelands National Energy and Climate Plan (2021 - 2030), Ireland’s Long Term Renovation Strategy (2020) and the National Adaptation Framework, Planning for a Climate Resilient Ireland 2024. Further to these plans, the Climate Action Plan 2024 was agreed by Government in July 2022 and sets out the roadmap to deliver on Ireland’s climate ambition. The Plan indicates that the world’s climate is changing rapidly with temperatures increasing faster since 1970 than in any other 50-year period over the last 2000+ years and 2023 was confirmed as the warmest year on record. The Climate Action Plan highlights the following current and future targets: k Rapid and significant reductions in GHG emissions are required to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement Goals. k Adherence to the European Green Deal commitment to deliver net-zero GHG emissions at EU level by 2050, with Ireland committed to achieving a 51% reduction in emissions from 2021 to 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050. k A 50% energy efficiency target, which requires immediate action from Ireland to secure an economy-wide low carbon and energy future for all its citizens. k A target of 30% of sales for new medium and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) which includes buses, to be zero emission by 2030. The realisation of national targets requires action at local level. Monaghan County Council will promote and support the diversification of the energy sector in accordance with EU, national and regional policy and the provisions of the Monaghan Local, Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2023 - 2029. The National Planning Framework 2040 sets out the strategic context for the provision of energy and associated infrastructure. Regard shall also be had to the following national plans, policies and strategies when considering proposals for renewable energy, and in particular, wind energy developments: k The National Renewable Energy Action Plan 2010 (Irish Government submission to the European Commission), k The Government’s National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030, k The Government’s White Paper on Energy Policy - Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030 (DoCENR), and k The Government’s National Mitigation Plan, July 2017 (DoCCAE). The Planning Authority will adopt a favorable approach to renewable energy developments. Projects involving indigenous sources of energy such as solar, landfill gas, biomass, energy crops, forestry waste, biogas from sewage sludge and farm slurry will be assessed with the policy of the Planning Authority to permit developments that are environmentally sustainable and in accordance with the proper planning of the area. The provision of gas as an energy resource will be pursued for the major settlements of the County with the appropriate authority. This chapter will provide an analysis of renewable technologies and outline measures to reduce dependency on fossil fuels in order to achieve national targets. Regard shall also be had to the following national plans, policies and strategies when considering proposals for EV Charging: k The National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2022 – 2025. k The draft National En-Route EV Charging Network Plan 2023-2030. 8.2.4 LOCAL POLICIES AND STRATEGIES Monaghan County Council has recently adopted a ‘Climate Action Plan’ (2024-2029), outlining a resilient and prosperous County for all who live, work, and visit County Monaghan, and where community engagement is at the heart of the plan. This plan builds upon the successful implementation of the 'Climate Change Adaptation Strategy’ (2019 to 2024). Monaghan County Council recently supported the ‘Facilitating a Sustainable Transition to EVs in the Regions’ (FASTER) project; where the ambition is to Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
Source Monaghan County Council: Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031 (2025–2031) · 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.