Plans by Donegal County Council to introduce a moratorium on holiday homes in specific areas of the county was deferred yesterday until after a further public consultation process.
During a review of the draft county development plan at County Hall in Lifford yesterday, councillors were told that following the large number of submissions from the public, the council proposed a tiered-protection plan for the county.
Areas such as Portnablagh, Dunfanaghy, Rathmullan, Portsalon and Downings, which have reached saturation level with regard to holiday homes, would only be allowed selective development such as resource-related tourism projects and rental accommodation.
Councillors were advised that in Portsalon, the number of holiday homes to permanent homes was four to one while in the Dunfanaghy/Portnabalgh area, there were 309 holiday homes and 180 permanent homes.
Council planners proposed that no further holiday-home development be permitted in an area where such accommodation represented more than 20 per cent of the housing stock. Areas where there is little or no holiday home development would not be subject to any restrictions.
The issue will now go back for public consultation from February 28th until March 28th.
County manager Michael McLoone referred to the criticism in public submissions on the amount of holiday-home development allowed in certain areas of the county. "We want to get a much clearer set of policy guidelines. I don't want the message to go out that this policy would hinder development of tourism or tourism product in the county. It should help to enhance the attractiveness of the county.
"We are not getting value added from houses lying empty for eight months of the year."
Cllr Brian O'Donnell added that if councillors were to carry through their democratic responsibility, no decision could be made at the council meeting.
"We are statute-bound to allow public consultation and give people their democratic right. Some of the towns proposed for a moratorium on holiday-home development are opposed to a moratorium and they say it is a knee-jerk reaction. They see it as closing down their towns and villages," Cllr O'Donnell added.