Observation pack · Galway County Council
Portumna Demesne , Portumna , Co Galway
for change of plan of previously permitted multi-use building [refer to plan. ref. no. 23/364]; amendments to the internal parking layout arrangement to include disability and bicycle parking spaces from previously approved under plan ref. nos. 23/364 and 08/2330; boundary treatments with associated landscaping; construction of an enclosed pitch area as permitted under plan. ref. no. 23/364 and all external site works
Observations close 29 Oct 2026 9 days left
5 weeks from receipt (received 24 Sept 2026) · s.34 Planning and Development Act 2000 · art. 29 Regulations 2001 · fee €20 · council decision due 18 Nov 2026
The application
- Reference
- 26251 · full record
- Authority
- Galway County Council
- Type
- PERMISSION
- Status
- NEW APPLICATION
- Applicant
- not published by the national dataset — see the council register
- Units
- 0
- Floor area
- —
- Site area
- 1.53 ha
- Received
- 24 Sept 2026
- We first saw it
- 14 Oct 2026, 01:45
- Decision due
- 18 Nov 2026
- Decision
- N/a
The national dataset truncates descriptions (80 characters for DLR, 70 for Fingal) and omits the applicant. The full description and the drawings are on the council register linked in step 1.
How to submit an observation
- Read the file on the council register.Drawings, planning statement and site notices are at http://www.eplanning.ie/GalwayCC/AppFileRefDetails/26251/0.
- Write your observation.Quote
26251at the top, give your name and the address the authority should reply to, and confine it to planning matters — zoning objective, height, overlooking, traffic, drainage, heritage. What you say here is what you can later appeal on. - Pay the €20 fee.Every submission needs it; without it the observation is invalid and is returned. Galway County Council takes it online with the submission or at the counter.
- Submit before 29 Oct 2026.Online through the register above, or in writing to the Planning Department, Galway County Council. The test is the date the authority receives it, not the date you post it.
- Keep the acknowledgement.The council's receipt is your proof of a valid observation — see below.
Statutory basis. Section 34(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) requires a planning authority to consider any submission or observation made to it in accordance with the Regulations. Article 29 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) sets the window: a submission or observation must be received by the authority within five weeks beginning on the date of receipt of the application, and must be accompanied by the prescribed fee of €20. A submission received after the window, or without the fee, is invalid and the authority must return it.
After you submit: keep the acknowledgement. Under the 2024 Act it secures your right to appeal — only the applicant and a person who made a valid observation may bring the council's decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála, within four weeks of the decision. Making a valid observation is also what buys a right of appeal: under s.37(1) of the 2000 Act, only the applicant and a person who made a valid submission or observation to the planning authority may appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála (within four weeks of the decision). Missing the five-week window closes both doors.
What the site is zoned
| Code | Objective | Plan | In force |
|---|---|---|---|
| G1 Open space with recreation | Open Space/Recreation & Amenity: To protect and enhance existing open space and provide for recreational and amenity space. | galway county development plan 2022 2028 | 20 Jun 2022 → 19 Jun 2028 |
| G1 Open space with recreation | Open Space/Recreation & Amenity: To protect and enhance existing open space and provide for recreational and amenity space. | galway county development plan 2022 2028 | 20 Jun 2022 → 19 Jun 2028 |
| N1.5 Airport | Transport Infrastructure: Facilitate the provision and maintenance of essential transportation infrastructure | galway county development plan 2022 2028 | 20 Jun 2022 → 19 Jun 2028 |
| R2 Existing residential | Residential Existing: To protect and improve residential amenities of existing residential areas | galway county development plan 2022 2028 | 20 Jun 2022 → 19 Jun 2028 |
| S3 Community infrastructure | Community Facilities: To provide for civic, community and educational facilities | galway county development plan 2022 2028 | 20 Jun 2022 → 19 Jun 2028 |
An application that accords with the zoning objective is hard to resist on principle; one that does not may be a material contravention, which the council can only grant by the s.34(6) procedure with its own notice and window.
Source: Galway County Council development plan zoning · fetched 27 Sept 2026, 19:37
| Source | Licence | Fetched | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galway County Council development plan zoning | — | 27 Sept 2026, 19:37 | open |
Designations on or near the site
Nothing designated within 100 m of the site.
Nearby precedents within 500 m, last 5 years
Decisions
| Reference | Decision | Decided | Units | Distance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26171 | Conditional | 26 Aug 2026 | 1 | 143 m | for change of use of 2 apartments to a singular residential dwelling, minor alterations to front elevation & refurbishment to existing internal dwelling & all associated site works |
| 2660595 | Conditional | 11 Jun 2026 | 1 | 250 m | for the change of use of the existing office/commercial building to residential use, creating one overall residential unit of the current building and all associated site services |
| 2660087 | Conditional | 19 Mar 2026 | 0 | 312 m | for the construction of a new storage/warehouse facility along with ancillary site works as well as retention permission to existing trade shop entrance |
| 25322 | Conditional | 22 Jan 2026 | 0 | 446 m | for 1) change of use of commercial unit to dwelling 2) Minor alterations & refurbishment to existing dwelling & all associated site works |
| 25250 | Unconditional | 14 Nov 2025 | 0 | 334 m | of planning ref. 19/1287 for developments at; Connaught Harbour to Portumna Bridge, Fairyhill following the ESB flood embankment, through Lough Derg Water Recreation Park, Portumna to Portumna Forest Park, Portumna Demesne, County Galway. The development consists of two Phases, Phase 1: a new multi-use shared leisure route (Blueway), 2.4km in length, with tailored surface finishes, information, directional and safety signage and all other associated ancillary works. The route commences at Portumna Bridge, crosses over the ESB flood bank via a new timber boardwalk, following along the toe of the flood bank connect to Lough Derg Water Recreation Park. A new cycle advisory lane, marked parking bays upgrade to footpaths shall be constructed at Lough Derg Water Recreation. The route continues through adjacent farm land which connects to OPW lands that lead to the existing access road at Portumna Forest Park. Phase 2: a new 8 berth marina, incorporating boat pump-out at Connaught Harbour, the removal of the two existing buildings and construction of a new car parking area. Located at the existing Waterways Ireland works yard at Portumna bridge the three existing building shall be removed, for the construction of a new car parking and amenity area, including a new timber covered space incorporating a bat roost. Existing footpaths shall be repaired where required and a new Toucan road crossing shall be constructed to connect to the Blueway constructed in Phase 1. The proposal will involve works to or within the curtilage of the following protected structures; Portumna Harbour, Fairyhill (RPS 477) and Portumna Castle, Portumna Demesne (PRS 3785). A Natura Impact Statement have been prepared and included as part of the planning application |
| 2461297 | Refused | 26 Sept 2025 | 0 | 314 m | for; 1) Demolition works to existing sheds (92 sq.m) and existing boundary walls; 2) The extension and reconfiguration of the existing car park with the addition of 14 extra car parking spaces bringing the total from 84 to 98 spaces including 20 EV charging spaces, 5 disabled spaces and 6 parent and child spaces. 3) Alterations to the existing entrance/exits onto Dominick Street to include the closure of one number exit and enlargement of second number exit from 6.0m to 8.0m wide, and the addition of an entrance only access 4.5m wide from the Clonfert Avenue with pedestrian crossing. 4) Site works to include the following, construction of a 2.0m high boundary wall, kerbing, footpaths, surfacing, associated drainage and installation of traffic management line marking. Gross floor space of any demolition: 92.00 sqm |
| 2560537 | Conditional | 25 Jun 2025 | 0 | 367 m | to change the use of three vacant ground floor commercial units to three number apartments, and to change the use of an adjacent vacant shell core unit, to nine number apartments. Permission is also sought for elevational changes to both blocks, along with changes to the site, to allow for a change in car parking layout, amenity space, and boundary treatments. Gross floor space of proposed works: 1,186 sqm |
| 2460558 | Conditional | 9 Jul 2024 | 1 | 235 m | for the conversion of existing Barn structure into residential use for the purposes of short term letting. Works will include a new roof, opening up of existing blocked up windows, connection into existing services on site and all associated site services. Gross floor space of proposed works: 43.58 sqm |
Appeals
| ACP case | Type | Outcome | Decided | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500130 | — | Granted with conditions | 19 May 2026 | 314 m |
| 323042 | — | open | 15 Jul 2025 | 367 m |
| 315409 | — | Granted with conditions | 9 Apr 2025 | 429 m |
| 311583 | — | Granted with conditions | 20 Jan 2022 | 306 m |
If neighbours here have appealed before and lost, the inspector's report on that case is the single most useful thing to read.
What has happened on this file
- 24 Sept 2026 New application · observations close 29 Oct 2026
- 24 Sept 2026 Decision
Generated from the Planning Register store; nothing was fetched live for this page. Source: national planning dataset, fetched 14 Oct 2026, 01:45. Not legal advice — confirm the deadline with Galway County Council before relying on it.