A Community Activity Grant is intended to assist community and voluntary groups to promote local community activities.  Examples include a community day, community week or a small event during the year. 

This category includes grants to assist with:-

Start Up Costs for community and voluntary groups, including insurance costs, purchase of small items of equipment and rental costs for new community groups who have been established within the previous six months.

Training Support for groups involved in community development who require training related to community development, governance, committee skills etc. The training must be for a group of volunteers and not one person only.

Community Development Initiatives for projects which assist with the long term development of a group or area and which specifically address equality initiatives, anti-racism, social inclusion, research and implementation of information and communication technology.

Running Costs related to on-going running costs including insurance and facility hire for existing groups.

The purpose of a Community Estate Enhancement Grant is to assist community groups who are trying to improve their local environment through projects or activities of an environmental nature at community level.    

This category covers two grant types:-

A Feasibility Grant is intended to give assistance to local community and voluntary groups to complete a feasibility study regarding the development of a community facility.

The Upgrading Community Facilities Grant allows for the refurbishment and/or redecoration of a facility which is used by the community.  

A Community Small Arts Grant is intended to assist individual artists or bodies organise a small scale community based arts event that promotes the arts in the community and improves appreciation of the arts, access to the arts and standards in the arts in the community.  Activities such as community/amateur art exhibitions, community publications of a creative writing nature and amateur musical/dramatic societies are eligible under this category.

If a query arises as to whether a proposal requires Planning Permission or whether it is exempted development, a submission may be made, in writing with proposals or maps - the more information the better accompanied by a fee (€80.00).  The planner will consider submissions & we reply within 4 weeks as to whether it does require planning permission or not.  The applicant can refer the decision to An Bord Pleanala accompanied by a fee (€150.00).

(Section 5, Planning & Development Act, pg 28)

In simple terms, a Development Plan is a spatial plan that guides the future development of a County for a six-year period through a suite of policy objectives, land use zoning objectives and development management guidance.

A Development Plan must ensure that there is enough land zoned in the County to meet our housing requirements which are set at a regional level. Chapter 1 of the Plan sets out more detail in relation to the legislative context and structure of the Development Plan.

A short video was prepared at the Draft Plan stage which provides an overview of what a Development Plan is and the vision for the County for the period 2022-2028 (note: the Draft Plan consultation ended in April 2021 - submissions can no longer be accepted). 

Section 10 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) sets out the statutory content of a Development Plan – these requirements are summarised in Appendix A of the pre-draft ‘Have Your Say’ document.

A Disability Access Certificate is a certificate granted by a Building Control Authority which certifies compliance of the design of certain works (e.g. new buildings (except dwelling houses), some extensions to, and some material alterations to buildings (except dwelling houses) with the requirements of Part M of the Building Regulations. 

A Local Area Plan (LAP) is a statutory document prepared by the Local Authority in accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).

A LAP consists of a suite of policies and objectives to guide the development of an area for a period of 6 years. A LAP sets out a land use strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development an area and consists of a written statement and maps indicating:

• objectives for the zoning of land for the use solely or primarily of particular areas for particular purposes, or
• other objectives in such detail as may be determined by the Planning Authority for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area to which it applies, including the objective of development of land on a phased basis and, detail on community facilities and amenities and on standards for the design of developments and structures.

A Local Area Plan (LAP) is a statutory document prepared by the Local Authority in accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).

A LAP consists of a suite of policies and objectives to guide the development of an area for a period of 6 years. A LAP sets out a land use strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development an area and consists of a written statement and maps indicating:

• objectives for the zoning of land for the use solely or primarily of particular areas for particular purposes, or
• other objectives in such detail as may be determined by the Planning Authority for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area to which it applies, including the objective of development of land on a phased basis and, detail on community facilities and amenities and on standards for the design of developments and structures.