A WORKSHOP will take
place today to review the Donegal County Development
plan including proposals to allow the building of
50% more holiday homes.
Sinn Féin said it will vehemently oppose the
proposals at today's workshop in a bid to have it
overturned.
Donegal Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty said the
proposal was made by Fianna Fáil councillors and
supported by Fine Gael last week.
"It is now over two years ago, in consultations with
senior planners in Donegal County Council, that I
suggested that restrictions needed to be placed on
holiday homes in the county to ensure local
communities are not overrun with holiday home
developments.
"That proposal was accepted into the County
Development Plan adopted by the Council last July,"
said Senator Doherty.
"At that time, I proposed that holiday homes be
restricted to no more than 20% of the houses in any,
village or town land."
Senator Doherty said he did this to ensure the
"sustainability of rural communities".Without a
sensible quota, he said 8,000 holiday homes could be
allowed in the county.
He said a quota would ensure the towns and villages
could sustain holiday homes. He said ordinary local
buyers and young people who were up to now "priced
out of the market" because they couldn't compete
with second home owners, would be able to build in
their own areas.
"Under the Sinn Féin proposal which was accepted,
each townland would be allowed one holiday home for
every four permanent homes. "This would have a dual
benefit as it not only allows the construction of
holiday homes but also manages to protect the
integrity of the town land for the future." |
