Corina Johnston, Labour Party Area Representative has questioned the relevance of The County Development and Local Area Plan given a recent planning decision by An Bord Pleánala. Johnston said; “The decision of An Bord Pleanala to grant planning permission for the controversial Corballis East SHD (Strategic Housing Development) in contravention of the County Development and Local Area Plan is a further indication of how irrelevant the County Development and Local Area Plans have become in the planning process within Fingal and indeed throughout the country. This controversial application has been objected to by the vast majority of people in Donabate, public representatives and Fingal County Council.” Johnston said; “In my own submission to the Board I raised the issues of densities, heights,mix and the impact on the highly sensitive landscape and also that the application is a material contravention of the current County Development Plan and the Donabate Local Area Plan. “ Johnston added; “In their decision the Board overruled their own inspector and the recommendations of the council’s planning department. The Board justified their decision based on National Policy and the fact that Donabate is “recognised as a Strategic Development Area”. The fact that it is designated as such is no justification for disregarding the existing character of the area. This land was zoned residential although controversially rezoned in 2003. “ Johnston continued; “While this application was under consideration by the Board local residents discovered an archeological monument (souterrain) on this site which had failed to be discovered during previous inspections and which could be seriously affected by this planning application. In response to representations from Duncan Smith TD and I the National Monuments Service confirmed that this monument will be included in the next review of the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP). Johnston concluded; “Although An Bord Pleánala have made this decision I am totally convinced that this is the wrong type of development on this site in Donabate for the reasons outlined and the potential implications on the recently discovered souterrain. Should this development proceed as per this permission the people of Donabate will become even more disillusioned with the planning process and realise the futility of public participation in the County Development and Area Plans.”