There was a 38% increase in figures for one-off houses at the end of September 2021, according to the Central Statistics Office. This was heard as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath was answering questions raised regarding the revised rural housing guidelines for planning authorities. McGrath added that over 28,000 rural housing planning permissions were granted in the five years to the end of quarter three last year and about 80% of that number were actually built.
Despite facing a number of challenges with current planning laws in Ireland, TD for Laois-Offaly, Carol Nolan, says that it is rural areas that are facing increasing problems regarding the planning laws. Many applicants are left in the dark due to a lack of response to their applications, Nolan says that this is because An Bord Pleanála isn’t coming back in a timely manner with a decision in relation to one-off housing.
Minister McGrath reassured Nolan that the Attorney General and a team of experts are currently re-examining the entire legislative framework underpinning the current planning system.
However, the number of applications is increasing significantly and there appears to be a balance between ensuring the developments are sustainable and suitable to the area in which they take place in. The revised rural guidelines for planning authorities will be published in the next four to six weeks.
LSL News.