PART 8 - BALLYSHANNON

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT 2000 – SECTION 179

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS 2001 – ARTICLE 81

NOTICE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 81 OF PART 8 OF THE ABOVE REGULATIONS (“the Regulations”), RELATING TO A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT BY DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL

Project Name: DEVELOPMENT OF A URBAN LINEAR PARK AND A THREE BRIDGES LOOPED WALK IN BALLYSHANNON TOWN CENTRE

TAKE NOTICE that Donegal County Council (“the Council”) proposes to carry out the development specified in paragraph (b) below and in relation thereto:-

a. The location of the development is on a site shown on a site location map included in the plans and particulars referred to in paragraph (e) below, which is on lands located to the north and south of the River Erne in Ballyshannon town centre in the townlands of Carrickboy, Townparks, Ballyshannon in the Donegal Municipal District.

b. The nature and extent of the proposed development is as follows: -

• Construction of a new link walkway from Lower Main Street along the river to the existing unused river path alongside the leisure centre & River Erne.
• Upgrading & opening the existing unused river path from the leisure centre towards the Millenium footbridge to the west.
• Works to a Recorded Protected Structure (Parapet wall of Ballyshannon Bridge listed on RPS 40852064) and access onto an existing public footpath.
• Demolition, stabilisation and re-construction of walls and access as needed to the adjacent carparking areas to the existing unused river path.
• Screening works to the existing Uisce Eireann wastewater pump station adjacent to the Millenium footbridge.
• Erection of alternative fencing along site boundary fencing to ESB lands.
• Relocation of ESB boundary fencing where required.
• Works associated with creating a 3 metre wide Urban Park Walkway along the southern embankment from the Millenium footbridge to the N15 road bridge to the east, and along the northern embankment from the N15 road bridge westwards to the Market Yard area of the town centre.
• Works associated with creating seating areas, installation of lighting, landscaping, site drainage, informal play areas, boundary treatment, installation of directional and information signage, and new pathways.
• Works associated with a New Public Realm Space at Market Yard.
• Works associated with the development of shelter areas, play features, site development works, shared surfaces, general streetscape enhancements, new pedestrian links and all ancillary works associated with the Back to Ballyshannon (Phase A) Urban Linear Park and Three Bridges Looped Walk Project.

All associated ancillary site works shall be located within the townlands of Carrickboy, Townparks, Ballyshannon in the Donegal Municipal District.

c. The proposed development is sub-threshold for the purposes of Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) per Article 92 of the Regulations and the Council has concluded on the basis of a Preliminary Examination of the nature, location and size of the proposed development in accordance with Article 120 (1)(b)(i) thereof that there is no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development and that Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) is not required. A copy of this Preliminary Examination and conclusion will be available for inspection or purchase along with the documents referred to in paragraph (e) below.  

Where however any person considers that the proposed development to be carried out by the Council would be likely to have significant effects on the environment, he or she may at any time before the expiration of 4 weeks beginning of the date of publication of this notice apply under Article 120(3)(b) of the Regulations to An Coimisiún Pleanala (64 Marlborough Street, Rotunda, Dublin 1, D01 V902) for a screening determination as to whether the development would be likely to have such effects. 

d. In order to ascertain whether the proposed development required Appropriate Assessment (“AA”) the Council carried out a screening of same in accordance with Article 250(1) of the Regulations and made a determination in view of best scientific knowledge that the development individually or in combination with other plans or projects would not be likely to have a significant effect on a European site in view of the site’s conservation objectives and that AA was not required.  A copy of this determination including the main reasons and considerations on which the determination was based will be available for inspection or purchase along with the documents referred to at paragraph (e) below.  

Where however any person considers that the proposed development to be carried out by the Council would be likely to have a significant effect on a European Site, he or she  may apply  under Article 250(3)(b) of the Regulations to  An Coimisiún Pleanala (64 Marlborough Street, Rotunda, Dublin 1, D01 V902) for a determination as to whether the development would be likely to have such significant effect and the Board will make a determination on the matter as soon as possible.  Any application for such determination in order to be considered by the Board must state the reasons for the forming of the view that the development would be likely to have a significant effect on a European Site.

e. Plans and particulars of the proposed development will be available for inspection or purchase (at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy) at: Online at: https://planning.localgov.ie/part-8/application/6d297ecc-29bb-11f1-8202-bd9f416ffbcb or at:

During opening hours 9:00am – 12.30pm and 1.00pm – 4.30pm from Monday to Friday. Telephone 07491 53900

The said plans and particulars will be available for inspection as above from 2^nd April 2026 to 7^th May 2026 (both dates inclusive).

f. Submissions and observations with respect to the proposed development, dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development is situated may be made in writing to: Online at: https://planning.localgov.ie/part-8/application/6d297ecc-29bb-11f1-8202-bd9f416ffbcb or to: Planning Services, Donegal County Council, County House, The Diamond, Lifford, Co. Donegal, F93 Y622 before 4.30pm on Wednesday 20^th May 2026. Please mark the front of the envelope with the project name as per the above schedule.

Eamonn Brown

A/Director of Service, Planning, Communities and Culture,

Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford.  

Date: 2^nd April 2026