PART 8 - Revival at the Courthouse Project - Letterkenny

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: REVIVAL AT THE COURTHOUSE PROJECT, LETTERKENNY

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 at paragraph (e) below, which site is on lands located at Justice Walsh Road/Ramelton Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal in the townland of Letterkenny in the Letterkenny & Milford Municipal District.

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

• The change of use, extension and modification of a Protected Structure, namely Letterkenny Courthouse (Ref. RPS 40502279) and its attendant lands to provide flexible space with multi-functional capacities for: (i) a tourist/visitor attraction and integrated Tourist Information Point (ii) interpretation, exhibitions, conferences, education & learning (iii) multi-purpose civic, cultural, community use and social gatherings and events (iv) café (v) retail/gift-shop and; (vi) ancillary offices, storage and public conveniences.
• All associated ancillary works to include site drainage and utilities, connection to public water supply and other services, enhancements to existing public realm, enhancements to public lighting, landscaping, development related signage & public art, connection & discharge to the public sewerage network.

All associated ancillary site works shall be located within the townland of Letterkenny in the Letterkenny & Milford 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 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 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 Bord 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 Bord 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/en/part-8/application/f58a1fd6-fb3d-11ef-8d01-39390d3d7aac 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 Thursday 20th March 2025 until Thursday 17th April 2025 (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/en/part-8/application/f58a1fd6-fb3d-11ef-8d01-39390d3d7aac or to: Planning Services, Donegal County Council, County House, The Diamond, Lifford, Co. Donegal, F93 Y622 before 4.30pm Wednesday 7th May 2025. Please mark the front of the envelope with the project name as per the above schedule.

Liam Ward,

Director of Service Community Development & Planning Services,

Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford.  

Date: Thursday 20^th March 2025.

THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027