The Cathaoirleach Cllr. Connolly reminded Members to declare any conflict of interest at the relevant stage of the meeting.

·         To consider Proposed Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028, and the report of the Chief Executive on submissions received on the Proposed Variation, as per Section 58 (12) of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended).

Cllr. Keogh requested a 15-minute adjournment to allow Members to read the Notice of Motion replies.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Keogh

           SECONDED by Cllr. Fitzmaurice

It was AGREED to adjourn the meeting for 15 minutes.

Following the adjournment, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Connolly noted that the purpose meeting was to consider Proposed Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028, and the report of the Chief Executive on submissions received on the Proposed Variation, as per Section 58 (12) of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended).

Chief Executive, Mr. Shane Tiernan, welcomed the Members to the Special Meeting and outlined that Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan (RCDP) 2022-2028 relates to the entire county but clarified that the land use zoning for the Monksland area of Athlone would be brought forward separately, and together with a Joint Strategy for Athlone would be considered separately under a future Variation No. 2 of the County Development Plan. He explained that the National Planning Framework (NPF) first revision adopted in April 2025 and subsequent Section 28 Guidelines on the NPF Implementation Housing Growth Requirements of July 2025 necessitated the preparation of the proposed Variation No. 1 of the RCDP to ensure consistency with updated national policy objectives particularly in relation to housing delivery.

The Section 28 Guidelines introduced revised population and housing growth requirements, replacing the previous housing supply methodology and requiring the Plan to recalibrate its Core Strategy accordingly. Consequently, a comprehensive reassessment has been undertaken of the existing zoned settlements in the county, including an examination of infrastructure capacity, existing land availability and the distribution of such available zoned land. This in turn has informed the delivery of this Proposed Variation No. 1 to the current RCDP, which provides for increased housing growth requirements and provides for additional zoned lands, including the application of ‘additionality’ i.e. further zoning of up to 50% more land capacity than the baseline housing growth requirement of 392 units per annum.

The original 392 units per annum provided for in the adopted Core Strategy already included an additional 50% provision relative to previously predicted population growth and housing need. This currently Proposed Variation is adding a further 50% to that. He highlighted that, under the original adopted plan, in relation to the County’s seven key population growth centres, 38 land parcels were zoned for new residential development. Of these, 27 have not experienced any development activity to date.

A total of 55 submissions were received from prescribed bodies and members of the public, Notices of Motion were also submitted by the Elected Members. Each submission will be considered in detail during the meeting for the Council’s consideration and approval, as appropriate. The Chief Executive’s responses were prepared by Director of Services, Mr. Mark Keaveney, Senior Planner, Ms. Mary Grier, Senior Executive Planner, Mr. Brian Farragher, and the Planning Department. These responses were formulated in the interest of achieving the proper and sustainable development of the county, with particular emphasis on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112.26

·         Review areas of Roscommon Town liable to flooding and drainage works carried out on Jiggy River and Ballinagard Bridge.

As noted earlier, Cllr. Keogh wished for this Notice of Motion to be adjourned to the September Plenary Meeting.

·         Include the former GAA grounds at Farnbeg in settlement boundary and zone the site for a Retirement village / Age centre.

·         Include Scramogue as a designated village within the County’s Settlement hierarchy and prepare a plan to formally recognise and support its development as a village.

As these were dealt with previously, there was no discussion on these Notice of Motions.

·         Zone the subject lands at Ballindrumlea as New Residential.

·         Zone the subject lands at Arm Cashel as New Residential.

·         Zone the subject lands at Knockroe for Strategic Residential use.

·         Consider drainage works on River Jiggy and its tributaries while assessing lands identified as flood zones.

Meetings Administrator, Ms. Karen Hanley, read the following Notice of Motion and reply.

Zone the subject lands at Ballindrumlea as New Residential

I wish to propose the following land in the map below with a yellow boundary at Ballindrumlea Castlerea for new residential zoning. (This Notice of Motion was accompanied by a map identifying the specific portion of land.)

Reply:

As per the Section 28 NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines for Planning Authorities, Roscommon County Council has been assigned a specific annual housing growth requirement of 392 units per annum.  In addition, the Guidelines allow for ‘additional provision’ of up to 50% above this annual growth requirement. The revised Core Strategy and the associated land use zoning strategy as set out in Proposed Variation No. 1 utilises the full extent of the 50% additional provision allowable, distributed to zoned settlements across the county, with the distribution appropriately maintaining a focus on facilitating a proportionately higher growth opportunity to areas of highest population and greatest housing demand.   

The revised Castlerea Settlement Plan, in seeking to align with the above referenced and other applicable statutory Guidelines, has prioritised more centrally located and sequentially positioned lands, thereby ensuring consistency with national and regional planning policy objectives which seek to reduce urban sprawl, maximise the use of existing infrastructure and services, and support the sustainable growth of settlements.

Having regard to the location of the subject lands, their peripheral nature in the context of the settlement of Castlerea and the availability of alternative lands within the Settlement Plan boundary, it is not considered necessary or appropriate to consider zoning the subject lands as part of Variation No. 1. It is considered appropriate that the subject lands remain unzoned and outside the Castlerea Settlement Plan boundary at the present time. 

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

               SECONDED by Cllr. McDermott.

It was AGREED that the land in the map with a yellow boundary at Ballindrumlea Castlerea is zoned as ‘New Residential’ zoning.

Meetings Administrator, Ms. Karen Hanley, read the following Notice of Motion and reply.

Zone the subject lands at Arm Cashel as New Residential

I wish to propose the lands outlined in yellow in the map below at Arm Cashel for new residential zoning. (This Notice of Motion was accompanied by a map identifying the specific portion of land.)

Reply

As per the Section 28 NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines for Planning Authorities, Roscommon County Council has been assigned a specific annual housing growth requirement of 392 units per annum.  In addition, the Guidelines allow for ‘additional provision’ of up to 50% above this annual growth requirement. The revised Core Strategy and the associated land use zoning strategy as set out in Proposed Variation No. 1 utilises the full extent of the 50% additional provision allowable, distributed to zoned settlements across the county, with the distribution appropriately maintaining a focus on facilitating a proportionately higher growth opportunity to areas of highest population and greatest housing demand.  

The revised Castlerea Settlement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 113.26c

·         Retain Community Infrastructure zoning of Edenville House (advocating for Sub. no.s - 14, 17, 18, 30, 34, 37, 42, 48, 49, 53 & 54).

·         Zone the subject lands (identified in Sub no. 12) adjoining Quarry View estate, Ballybride, as New Residential.

·         Retain current zoning for a portion of the subject lands (identified in Sub No. 20) at Lisnacroghy / Gallowstown, and zone the remainder of the site as Outer Core.

·         Zone the Haydens field (identified in Sub No. 24) between N63 and L1807 as Residential.

As these were dealt with previously, there was no discussion on these Notice of Motions.

·         Rejects the rezoning of Edenville House as Outer Core.

·         Opposes the rezoning of subject lands adjacent to Abbeyville Estate.

As these were dealt with previously, there was no discussion on these Notice of Motions.

·         Zone the subject lands (identified in Sub no. 26) at Racecourse Road as Existing Residential.

·         Include the subject lands (identified in Sub no. 12) adjoining Quarry View Estate, Ballybride in settlement boundary and zone as New Residential.

·         Rezone the subject lands (identified in Sub no. 45) adjacent to Centre Point retail park, as Outer Core instead of Greenbelt.

·         Zone Northern portion of the subject lands (identified in Sub no. 40) at The Walk, Roscommon Town as Industrial / Enterprise and Southern portion for Residential use.

·         Rezone the 15m strip of land adjoining Walsh's Service Station (identified in Sub no. 08) as Outer Core instead of Greenbelt.

·         Zone the subject lands (identified in Sub no. 36) at Racecourse Road and Gallowstown for Residential use.

·         Zone the subject lands (identified in Sub no. 25) with frontage along The Walk for Residential use.

·         Zone the subject lands (identified in Sub no. 21) at Millbrook, Bealnamulla / Monksland for Residential use.

As these were dealt with previously, there was no discussion on these Notice of Motions.