‘A blanket ban everywhere along the N56 has never made any practical sense’

Councillor Brian Carr has requested that Deputy Pearse Doherty table a Parliamentary Question, in light of the government's proposed reforms to rural planning

Published 9th Jun 2026, 21:04 BST The N56 spans 157.3km and is entirely in Donegal | Donegal Live Councillor Brian Carr has requested that Deputy Pearse Doherty table a Parliamentary Question, in light of the government's proposed reforms to rural planning Sign up to our Donegal Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Donegal Live within your account.

A councillor has called for the restrictions on planning along the N56 to be lifted, stating that “it never made sense.”

Planning permission has been restricted along the N56 due to “intensification”, which prevents housing developments or businesses, as it would allegedly increase traffic flow along the national road.

The long-standing restrictions have been highlighted in light of the National Planning Strategy, which intends to relax rules for rural housing.

“The Government has indicated that it intends to relax planning restrictions in rural areas and make it easier for people to build homes in the communities where they were born and raised,” Sinn Féin Councillor for the Glenties MD, Brian Carr said. “If the Government is serious about that commitment, then it must be prepared to tackle the unfair planning restrictions affecting lands along the N56.

"Any announcement will ring hollow for many families in Donegal unless they are prepared to take action on this issue. Sinn Féin representatives and local communities have been raising planning restrictions on the N56 for years.

"Families with deep roots in their local area have repeatedly found themselves unable to secure planning permission to build a home on family land because of restrictions associated with the N56.

"We all know that there are parts of the N56 where it is more than safe and appropriate to build homes. A blanket ban everywhere along the N56 has never made any practical sense. And for many families, these restrictions have had real consequences. Young people who want to remain in their communities have been forced to look elsewhere. Communities have been held back.

“I have asked Deputy Pearse Doherty to table a Parliamentary Question to ask the Government to reconsider insisting on these planning restrictions remaining in place in light of the Government's proposed reforms. Government has an opportunity to correct a longstanding injustice, do away with the blanket ban and ensure that local people have a fair chance to live and build in their own communities.”

Related topics: Sinn Fein Donegal Planning permission Sign up to our Donegal Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Donegal Live within your account.