The Irish Times

A senior planning official with Donegal County Council has claimed that the planning system is being abused over the building of new homes in rural areas. Mr Jim Harley, senior executive planner, outlined 16 examples to councillors where planning permission was sought by local people who said the planned property was for their own use. However, the properties in question had not been owner-occupied and were now up for sale. In a number of cases, the for-sale signs were erected on the lands even before the property was built, he claimed. In one case, a clergyman was the applicant who stated that the property was for his own use.