Major boost for Donegal autism services as Buncrana iCARE Centre wins planning approval

Donegal County Council has granted retention planning permission, subject to five conditions, for six modular buildings at the Inishowen Children's Autism Related Education (iCARE) centre in Buncrana.

The application, submitted by iCARE CEO Margaret Livadans, sought permission to retain the buildings currently in use at the organisation’s premises for educational and recreational activities supporting autistic children, young people and adults.

Established in 2000 by a small group of parents, iCARE was founded to support autistic individuals and their families while promoting inclusion and breaking down barriers within the community.

The organisation has expanded significantly over the past 26 years, with the iCARE Centre in Buncrana opening in 2007 before the site was purchased in 2013. In 2020, the charity further developed its services with the launch of iADULT, providing dedicated support for autistic adults.

Today, iCARE operates six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, providing after-school programmes, Saturday clubs and school holiday activities. The organisation also runs Sonas, a youth club for young people aged 11 and over, offering opportunities to develop social skills, build friendships and take part in recreational activities in a supportive environment.

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As part of the permission, Donegal County Council attached five conditions to the retention approval.

One condition requires that no surface water from the site is permitted to discharge onto the public road, with measures to be taken to ensure that road water does not enter the site. The council stated that this condition is required to prevent flooding.

Another condition requires all sound trees, shrubs and hedgerows to be retained, with replacements provided if any die in the future. The condition is intended to preserve the amenities of the area.