Amount of unauthorised developments in Leitrim confirmed by Co Council

Leitrim County Council has been asked to provide updates on unauthorised developments in the county.

The request came at the recent monthly meeting of the council.

In a motion submitted by Cllr Irene Guckian Rabbitte (Ind), she called for an update on procedures and timelines used to identify and deal with unauthorised developments in the county.

In her motion, the Independent representative also posed a number of questions - “Is there an issue with unauthorised developments in Co. Leitrim? Is the council fully resourced to deal with such cases? Are there any cases open and how many? Have there been any fines issued?”

Speaking at the meeting, the councillor stated, “the council's written reply is very lengthy. I am trying to understand what the procedures are in relation to unauthorised developments.”

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The council's Senior Planner, Bernard Greene, addressed the meeting.

He told the councillors that some of the complaints received about unauthorised developments were “minor and some not so minor.”

When written complaints were submitted to the council, “there was no requirement for that complaint to be signed,” according to Mr. Greene.

Cllr Padraig Fallon (SF) stated that, in his opinion, “the person who has an allegation made against should see a copy of the complaint.”

According to the written reply from the council, there were 50 planning enforcement cases opened in the county in 2025. This compares to 36 such cases opened in 2024. 

“Most of these cases were on foot of receipt of written complaints from members of the public,” the reply stated.

“Of the cases opened in 2025, 6 were closed by the end of the year,” the reply added.

“The manner of dealing with written allegations of unauthorised developments is set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended,” the reply stated.

The council went on to state that a planning authority is required to undertake an investigation within 6 weeks of receipt of such a written representation.

“The usual response is the issuing of  a Warning Letter to the owner, the occupier or any other person carrying out the alleged unauthorised development,” the reply stated.

“A period of 4 weeks is afforded to reply and the Planning Authority may enter on land within this period for the purposes of initial or further inspection,” the council added.

The council went on to state that some unauthorised developments are remedied through retention of planning permission provisions.

The courts are reluctant to prosecute until all of the planning permission provisions have been exhausted, the reply added.

“We presently have 7 cases before the District Courts,” the council stated.

The council are unable to issue fines, only the courts, the reply added.

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