Donegal is Ireland's most northerly and geographically remote county. Planning disputes regularly involve holiday homes in sensitive coastal areas, one-off rural housing in the Gaeltacht, and renewable energy proposals in upland and bogland landscapes.
5 weeks from date the council received the application — check the planning portal for the exact registration date
Fee
€20 payable to Donegal County Council (separate from PlanningLetter.ie fee)
Development Plan
Donegal County Development Plan 2018–2024 — your generated letter references the relevant objectives automatically
Generate your Donegal objection letter now
Your letter will cite Article 29 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 and the relevant objectives of the Donegal County Development Plan 2018–2024. Free preview — €9.99 to download the clean, submission-ready PDF.
Article 29 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 gives any person the legal right to make a submission on any planning application to Donegal County Council — regardless of whether you own property or live adjacent to the site.
Donegal County Council is legally required under Section 34(3)(b) to have regard to your submission before making its decision. A properly referenced letter citing specific planning policies carries significantly more weight than a general complaint.
Every citation in your letter links directly to irishstatutebook.ie — the official Irish government legislation database.
Do I need to live near the development to object? +
No. Article 29 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 gives any person the right to object — not just neighbours or landowners. You do not need a solicitor.
What is the deadline to object to Donegal County Council? +
5 weeks from the date Donegal County Council received the application — stated in Article 29 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. Check the planning portal for the exact registration date using your reference number.
Is there a fee to submit an objection? +
Yes — Donegal County Council charges a statutory €20 fee under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (Articles 29 and 168, Schedule 10). This is paid directly to the council, separate from the PlanningLetter.ie fee of €9.99.
What if the council approves despite my objection? +
If you made a valid submission, you can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within 4 weeks of the decision under Section 37 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The appeal fee is approximately €220.
Planning objection letters for nearby councils
Need a letter for a neighbouring council area? Each page has council-specific submission details and deadlines.