The Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, Dr Colm O'Reilly, was one of the hundreds of applicants who lodged planning applications during Christmas week to meet the end-of-year deadline for rural renewal and other tax break schemes.
St Mel's Diocesan Trust applied for planning permission for 140 houses on land beside the bishop's house in Longford, which qualifies for the Rural Renewal Scheme.
The diocese plans to sell the land once it receives planning permission, and invest the profits in pastoral services in Longford and other areas.
One of the planning applications in Co Leitrim is for the redevelopment of Carrick-on-Shannon town centre, a €65 million project and one of the biggest private developments ever proposed in the region.
Planning applications have also been submitted for major developments in Co Longford, including an industrial and commercial park on the outskirts of Longford town.
The December 31st planning application deadline affected five tax incentive schemes: the Living over the Shop Scheme, Rural Renewal Scheme, Town Renewal Scheme, Park and Ride Scheme, and Student Accommodation scheme.
There was also a marked increase in hotel planning applications in the last few weeks because generous write-off allowances will apply only to developments where a valid planning application has been made before December 31st last year.
These investors will be able to write off their investment over seven years for future developments, as opposed to 25 years, which is less attractive from a tax point of view.