Donabate rezoning plan is approved

Fingal County Council has voted to rezone almost 400 acres of land at Donabate north Co Dublin for residential development - a move which could lead to a trebling of the population of the seaside village.

Despite vociferous opposition from the Labour Party group on the council, the proposal to rezone the lands surrounding the village was passed by 13 votes to nine at last night's meeting. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil councillors voted in favour of the rezoning, while the Labour Party's no vote was supported by Socialist Party councillors, Ms Clare Daly and Ms Ruth Coppinger, and Green Party councillor, Mr Robbie Kelly.

The development of the agricultural land around Donabate has the potential to bring the population from the current 7,500 residents to almost 25,000, accord- ing to the county manager, Mr Willy Soffe. Opponents of the rezoning claim the village does not have the schools, sewage system or health and transport infrastructure to cope with such a population increase.

"People already find it very difficult to get on a train in the mornings. School children are getting crushed to bits," Labour councillor, Mr Gerry McGuire, said. "The existing development plan allows for an increase of 7,000 in the population. The sewage system needs upgrading, there's no guarantee that will be done. The place can't handle another 25,000 people."

Coastal lands, designated as having "extreme sensitivity" because of their importance to the visual landscape, had not been excluded from the rezoning, party colleague, Cllr Tom Kelleher said.

Council planner Mr David O'Connor said his department would shortly be meeting with the Donabate residents to discuss the progress of the new plans.