Public Display of Proposed Variation No. 1 to Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029

Clare County Council has prepared a proposed Variation No.1 to the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 pursuant to Section 58 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended).

The Proposed Variation comprises of amendments to the Written Statement (Volume 1), Maps (Volume 2) and the Municipal District Settlement Plans (Volumes 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d) of the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029. The proposed amendments are set out by reference to the relevant volume of the existing development plan. The reasons for the proposed variation are as follows:

1. To align the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 with the NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirement’ Guidelines for Planning Authorities issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (2025).
2. To implement the decision to propose a variation to the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 to change the zoning of lands in accordance with the Finance Act 2021, as amended by the Finance Act 2024, and the policy and guidance in the Residential Zoned Land Tax - Change in zoning of land subject to existing economic activity Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2024).
3. To incorporate ‘Ennis 2040 Economic and Spatial Strategy’ into the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 to inform future patterns of land-use zoning in Ennis and support the effective implementation of the NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirement’ Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2025).
4. To incorporate ‘Ennis Local Transport Plan’ into the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 to inform the future comprehensive pattern of land-use zoning of Ennis and support the effective implementation of the NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirement’ Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2025).
5. To align the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 with the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (2024).

The proposed variation consists of the following documents:

1. Introduction and Description of the Proposed Variation
2. Volume 1 Written Statement
3. Volume 2 Maps
4. Volume 3a(i) Ennis and Clarecastle Settlement Plans
5. Volume 3a(ii) Ennis Municipal District Settlement Plans
6. Volume 3a(iii) Ennis 2040 Economic and Spatial Strategy
7. Volume 3a(iv) Ennis Local Transport Plan
8. Volume 3b Shannon Municipal District Settlement Plans
9. Volume 3c Killaloe Municipal District Settlement Plans
10. Volume 3d West Clare Municipal District Settlement Plans
11. Environmental Report – Strategic Environmental Assessment
12. Environmental Report Non-Technical Summary – Strategic Environmental Report
13. Natural Impact Report – Appropriate Assessment
14. Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

Public Consultation

A copy of the proposed Variation No.1 to the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 with associated Environmental Report and Natura Impact Report will be on public display from 6th March 2026 to 7th April 2026 inclusive and is available to view in the documents below. The variation may also be inspected during normal opening hours at the following Council office locations:

• Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis.
• Shannon Municipal District Office, Town Hall, Shannon.
• West Clare Municipal District Office, Town Hall, The Square, Kilrush.
• Ennistymon Area Office, Ennis Road, Ennistymon.
• Killaloe Municipal District Office, Mountshannon Road, Scarriff and
• At all public libraries in County Clare during opening hours.

Submission on the Variation

Clare County Council hereby invites any interested parties to make a submission with regard to the proposed Variation No.1 to the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029. Submissions may be made during the period from 6th March 2026 to 7th April 2026 inclusive.

Submissions received will be taken into consideration before the making of Variation No.1 to the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029.

In respect of making a submission please note the following:

• Please insert the heading “Variation No.1 to the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029” on your submission
• Please make your submission by one medium only i.e. email or by post. This will avoid the duplication of submission reference numbers and will streamline the process.
• Submissions should include your name and may include address, a map (for identification purposes) and, where relevant, details of any organisation, community group or company etc., which you represent. Clare County Council is subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act (as amended) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In order to assist us in complying with Data Protection and GDPR please include your name and contact details (and where relevant, details of any organisation, community group or company etc., which you represent), on a separate sheet to the content of your submission/ observation. This processing of your personal data is lawful under Article 6 (1)(e) of the GDPR regulations. The Council’s Data Protection Policy is available on the Council website
• Please be advised that all submissions received will be published online in accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2024, as amended, and will be summarised in the Chief Executive’s Report, which will be published. You should ensure that no vexatious, libellous or confidential information, including confidential information relating to a third party (in respect of which the third party has not, expressly, or impliedly in the circumstances, consented to its disclosure) is included in your submission. The Planning Authority reserves the right to redact any submission or part thereof that does not comply with this requirement.

The planning process is an open and public process and therefore your submission (in part or in total) will be available to view online at https://clarecdp2023-2029.clarecoco.ie/. All submissions received during the above time period will be taken into consideration before the making of Variation No.1 to the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029.

A submission can be submitted by one of the following methods:

• By email to: devplan@clarecoco.ie. Subject headline should read “Submission to Variation No.1 to the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029”
• In writing to: Variation No.1 to the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029, Planning Department, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co Clare. V95 DXP2

The deadline for receipt of submissions is Tuesday 7th April 2026. Please note late submissions will not be considered.

If you have any queries or require more detail regarding the proposed variation, please contact the Forward Planning Section by email at: forwardplan@clarecoco.ie or by phone at 065-6846407/6846451.

Page last reviewed: 05/03/26

Content managed by: Planning Department

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