Planning authority

Planning in Donegal

Planning applications, decisions and housing delivery for Donegal County Council, drawn from the national planning register, the CSO and the Uisce Éireann capacity register. The figures update each month.

2,609
Applications received in the 12 months to 21 September 2026
93.5%
Granted, of applications decided, received 2023 to 2025 (5,565 decisions). Rank 6 of 31
844
Homes completed, Q3 2025 to Q2 2026 (CSO)
926
Homes commenced, August 2025 to July 2026 (CSO)

Applications Each Year

Applications received by Donegal County Council in each full year since 2017, with the share of decided applications that were granted. The grant rate for 2023 to 2025 is 93.5%, 4.7 points above the national rate of 88.9%.

1,99385% granted20171,99387% granted20182,04392% granted20192,07493% granted20202,63594% granted20212,10591% granted20222,03094% granted20232,45193% granted20242,51694% granted2025

What Is Applied For

Applications received in 2023 to 2025 by type of development, as classified from the description on the register, with the grant rate for each type here and nationally.

Type of developmentApplicationsGranted hereGranted nationally
Single house3,26293.2%86.8%
Extension1,64697.5%94.7%
Other-mixed49390.3%87.7%
Change of use35993.1%86.9%
Agricultural29992.4%91.3%
Housing scheme21788.5%83.1%
Retention (unclassified)18189.3%80.4%
Apartments17089.0%80.1%
Commercial-industrial15987.6%87.2%
Demolition13592.1%86.3%
Solar-energy3993.3%88.6%
Signage-telecoms3786.7%83.1%

Homes Completed

844 homes were completed in Donegal in the four quarters Q3 2025 to Q2 2026: 440 single houses, 380 houses in schemes and 24 apartments (CSO, new dwelling completions by local authority). The national picture, and how completions relate to permissions, is in the monthly housing pipeline report.

Largest Residential Applications, Last Two Years

Applications for 20 or more homes received since 21 September 2024, largest first, where the number of homes can be read from the register. Some applications do not state it in a form that can be read, so the list is not complete; a scheme refused and lodged again appears twice. No applicant is named.

ReferenceReceivedLocationHomesStatus
25613211 August 2025GLENCAR IRISH AND GLENCAR SCOTCH , LETTERKENNY , LETTERKENNY PO260Not recorded
266120830 June 2026WINDYHALL , LETTERKENNY , CO. DONEGAL171Not recorded
25613486 August 2025GLENCAR IRISH AND GLENCAR SCOTCH , LETTERKENNY , LETTERKENNY PO100Granted
256106925 June 2025CHURCH ROAD , MAGHERACAR , BUNDORAN DONEGAL PO94Granted
26614625 August 2026GLEBE & RAFORKER , DONEGAL TOWN , CO DONEGAL71Not recorded
256188730 October 2025ARDAN RUA , KILLYLASTIN , LETTERKENNY68Granted
266044418 March 2026KILLYCLUG , LETTERKENNY , CO. DONEGAL60Not recorded
25617243 October 2025MOSS ROAD , CHURCHLAND QUARTERS , CARNDONAGH LIFFORD PO48Granted
246166521 October 2024DUNFANAGHY , LETTERKENNY PO , CO. DONEGAL44Granted
266067017 April 2026RADHARC AN CHUAIN , BALLYBOE , RAMELTON LETTERKENNY PO43Granted
266076630 April 2026ARD NA GLAISE , MASSREAGH , KILMACRENNAN LETTERKENNY PO42Not recorded
25619376 November 2025LISNENAN , LETTERKENNY , CO. DONEGAL42Granted

Wastewater Capacity

Of the 57 settlements in Donegal on the Uisce Éireann wastewater capacity register, 14 are shown red, 7 amber and 36 green (register as retrieved 15 September 2026). Uisce Éireann shows a red settlement as having no capacity available for new connections. A scheme there depends on a planned upgrade or, for a small discharge of up to 150 population equivalent (about 40 homes), the developer-led route in circular NSP 01/2026.

An Fál CarrachBallyliffinBridge EndBurnfootCarrickCarrigansCastlefinCnoc na MuirleogCreesloughDunfanaghyMovilleNewtowncunninghamRaphoeSt. JohnstonBunbeg-DerrybegCarndonaghClonmanyFahanKildrumManorcunninghamRossnowlagh
How these figures are made. Donegal County Council records an application without a recorded outcome as "N/A" in the national register: 20.5% of applications received in 2023 to 2025. These are left out of the grant rate, which uses only applications granted or refused. Invalidations are not recorded by this authority's system and are not compared between authorities. Register data to 21 September 2026; a recent application may take some weeks to appear. Completions are the CSO's quarterly series by local authority; commencements are the CSO's monthly series of commencement notices. The comparison table sets every authority side by side.

For a File in Donegal

Planning Search finds any application received since 2013 by reference or address; the deadline calculator gives the last day for a submission or appeal from the reference; which Act applies settles whether the file is under the 2000 Act or the 2024 Act; appeal statistics show how often decisions here are changed on appeal. The council's own register: planning portal.

Planning Advice in Donegal

AK Planning works nationally from Limerick: applications, submissions, appeals and site appraisals.

061 341 782 · Mob 086 688 7402 Ask AK Planning →