What is a submission?

An applicant for planning permission must erect a site notice in a conspicuous position on the site and must publish a notice of the application in an approved newspaper circulating in the area.

The following newspapers are acceptable for the publication of planning applications within the functional areas of Clare County Council.

• The Clare Echo
• The Clare Champion
• The Irish Examiner
• The Irish Independent
• The Irish Times

An application must be received by the planning authority within 2 weeks of the notice being placed in the newspaper and the site notice being erected. A site notice must remain in site, in a legible condition, for at least 5 weeks from the date of receipt of the application by the planning authority.

If you think an application has been made, you can contact the planning authority about recent applications.

Anyone has the right to see a planning application made to a local authority. On payment of a €20 fee, you also have the right to make a written submission or observation on the application within 5 weeks of date of receipt of the planning application by the planning authority.

Your submission should be based on planning considerations. These planning considerations include:

• National and regional guidelines and ministerial directives
• Policies and objectives of the development plan
• Policies and objectives of any local plan
• Local considerations such as site development density, parking provision, traffic hazards, overlooking, effects on residential amenity, etc.
• Public health
• Environmental, amenity and shopping impacts
• Other material planning matters

Vexatious or frivolous comments will not be considered.

Anyone who has made written submissions/observations and paid the necessary fee must be informed of the decision by the local authority within 3 days of making the decision.

If you made a submission/observation that has been acknowledged by the local authority, you have the right to appeal the planning decision to An Bord Pleanála. You also have the right to be informed of any other appeals that have been lodged to An Bord Pleanála and to receive a copy of the appeal. For details on the appeals process, fees, time limits etc see appeal guide

Data protection

Please note that the planning process is an open and public one. In that context, all planning application documents (including submissions) are made available for public inspection. This information can also be accessed using our online planning search.