Forty-four warning notices issued by Mayo planning enforcement department

Forty-four warning notices have been issued by the planning enforcement unit at Mayo County Council for the first six months of 2023.

Seven enforcement letters have issued this year.

The office receives around 150 written complaints every year, elected members were told in a presentation on the department.

Ms. Tanya Whyte explained to councillors that their aim is to solve an issue if there is one, something they aim to do as quickly as possible.

If there is a case there, a warning letter has to issue from the unit to the alleged developer.

A new area coming under the remit of the office is coastal planning, for three nautical miles, which is a change from the high water mark.

Councillor Damien Ryan observed that the office is operating with a skeleton staff and they needed more assistance.

The office needs to be proactive as well as reactive and should have a section which deals specifically with compliance, he said.