Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Services
  3. Planning, heritage and conservation
  4. Planning applications
  5. Post planning
  6. Development contribution

Development contributions

What is a development contribution

Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended), requires planning authorities to make a development contribution scheme.  The contribution rates as detailed in the scheme are subject to an annual adjustment using the wholesale price indices – building and construction capital goods published by the Central Statistics Offices.

Under Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended), a planning authority can, when granting a planning permission under section 34 of the act, include conditions requiring the payment of a development contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities such as the refurbishment,upgrading, enlargement or replacement of roads, car parks, car parking places, sewers, waste water facilities, drains or water mains, the provision of open spaces, parks, community facilities and amenities and landscaping works etc. Once a permission is granted, various levels of development charges may be levied. It is advisable to check the current development contribution scheme prior to making a planning application to avoid confusion as to the charges.

Clare County Council, may in addition to the terms of the general development contribution scheme require the payment of a special contribution in respect of a particular development where specific exceptional costs not covered by a scheme are incurred in respect of public infrastructure and facilities which benefit the proposed development. In such cases the condition will specify the particular works carried out or proposed to be carried out by the council.

Contributions are payable prior to commencement of developments.

Development contribution charges

The current development contribution charges are set out in the council's general development contribution scheme. These charges are outlined in the links below:

Draft Development Contribution Scheme 2025-2029

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Section 48(4) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, that Clare County Council has prepared a Draft Development Contribution Scheme for the functional area of Clare County Council for the period 2025-2029.

Copies of the Draft Development Contribution Scheme 2025-2029, showing specific details of the proposed contributions are available for public inspection at the following locations during normal working hours from Friday 25th April 2025 to Monday 9th June 2025:  

  • Planning & Enterprise Development Section, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95 DXP2.
  • West Clare Municipal District (West), Kilrush Office, Town Hall, Kilrush, Co. Clare, V15 XK70.
  • West Clare Municipal District (North), Ennistymon Office, Ennis Road, Ennistymon, Co. Clare, V95 YX81.
  • Killaloe Municipal District Office, Mountshannon Road, Scarriff, Co. Clare.
  • Shannon Municipal District Office, Town Hall, Shannon, Co. Clare.

The Draft Scheme may be viewed by clicking on the PDF document located in the Related Documents section below.

Submisions or observations in relation to the Draft Development Contribution Scheme 2025–2029 may be made in writing or e-mail to the Planning Authority before the end of the period for inspection. Written submissions should be clearly marked “Draft Development Contribution Scheme 2025–2029” and forwarded to the Administrative Officer, Planning & Enterprise Development, Clare County Council, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95 DXP2.

Alternatively, submissions or observations should be e-mailed to planoff@clarecoco.ie. Subject headline should read “Draft Development Contribution Scheme 2025–2029”.

The latest date for receipt of submissions is Monday 9th June 2025 at 4 p.m

As this is a public consultation process, submissions may be made available for public viewing and consequently personal details such as address, email address, and phone number should be submitted on a separate sheet accompanying any submissions or observations.

Content managed by: Planning Department

Back to top