Councillors to gain more power to alter County Development Plan

COUNCILLORS are set to receive more power to alter future County Development Plans.

The statutory document is used to set out the county’s land use framework, guiding growth and development.

Ten-year plan is required

It also outlines how the land will be used to shape the future of local communities. The latest plan covers the years 2022 to 2028.

The next plan will cover a decade, a decision that has been criticised for being too long by Williamstown Councillor Declan Geraghty.

Speaking at a recent plenary meeting, he called for the plan to cover a shorter period and to allow councillors more power to make any necessary changes to the document.

“The ten years versus five-year debate, that ship has already sailed. The 2024 Planning Development Act means we are required to produce a ten-year plan,” explained Galway County Council CEO Liam Conneally.

“But what is changing is our ability to vary the plan. That function can be used a lot more frequently starting with our next County Development Plan.

“We can’t change the number of years, that legislation is in place, and we must abide by the letter of the law.”