This article is from page 18 of the 2008-10-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
MORE than four and a half million euro has been lost to the county’s coffers during the first eight months of this year as planning applications plummet.
From January to August 2007 Clare County Council was paid almost €6 million in development
contributions. This year develop- ment contributions
paid to the local plan- ning authority during the same period fell by 78 per cent to almost €1.3 million.
These Development Contributions of Sec- tion 48 levies are paid on all planning applica- tions granted – from one-off houses to major developments.
Planning applications in the county have decreased by 42 per cent from AF Welet-D mya KO a Uelcab nc mA OD ECMA (or)
Clare County Council has claimed, however, that as development contri- bution income is applied to capital projects it has no impact on revenue.
This is a point challenged by Clare County Councillor PJ Kelly (FF).
The west Clare councillor who has been critical of planning issues in Clare, said he believes that the re- duction in the planning applications is not solely as a result of the reces-
sion.
“Many of the main developments have quit the county because of the continuous difficulties with plan- ning,” he said.
“Difficulties with rural planning have caused many to throw in the towel and just give up,” he main- tained.
“The absence of any industrial policy which is replaced by a rural sterilisation programme has left us with a zero rate of lao (oy oyentoy imum temp alon- it areas,’ he said.
In response to a mo- tion by Cllr Kelly to be tabled at Monday’s adjourned meeting of the September meet-
ing, the council also pointed out that it is employing less staff in the plan- ning section due to the reduction in activity. Five planning staff members have not been replaced this year.
“While the number of applications and staff has decreased this year it is not intended that the level (of service) would be reduced,” the reply said.
Cllr Kelly remained critical of the sector however. “One would expect with a decrease in work load we would have an increase in Service. This has not happened,” he said.