Difficult to get planning for one-off houses
IT is now becoming increasingly difficult for people to obtain planning for one-off houses throughout the country, Fianna Fáil Deputy Michael Moynihan told the Dáil.
“Local authorities are citing regulations coming down from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government that are more stringent and stricter,” he said.
“The local authorities have to put these regulations in place, making it more difficult for people, as the Taoiseach stated in his earlier comments, who want to build their own houses in their local communities and have proper regional development. These families, who build predominantly in rural areas, go on to be active members of their community and add to and enhance their communities. The Taoiseach needs to take a serious look at this.”
In response, the Minister for Housing, Planning and local Government, Eoghan Murphy, said one of the key goals the Government is trying to achieve with the National Planning Framework which is being finalised at present, is clarifying issues in relation to planning around the country.
“The ambition around Rebuilding Ireland, and in terms of our population projections on where people will live out to 2040, is that 50% of the growth would come from cities and large urban centres but 50% of the growth would come from everywhere else,” he said.
“That means that we must ensure that we have a proper planning framework in place for local authorities to ensure that we can open up doors to parts of the country that were thought to be previously closed. Of course, this is not only about providing planning for homes. It is also about ensuring that we have the right planning for jobs and other key infrastructure.” N20, one of the most important roads in the country, between Cork and Limerick, I would say the street would be still shut down because of the emergency.”
In reply, the Minister for Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, said in 2017, the Heritage Council gave €140,200 in current funding and €282,000 in capital funding to the walled town network.
“I see no reason that should not continue,” she said.
“However, it is not a matter for me. It is a matter for the Heritage Council. This funding was in addition to supports, including training, for community groups. Obviously, my Department is having ongoing discussions, as part of the oversight and liaison meetings, with the Heritage Council and I am confident that the Deputy will secure this important funding into the future.” one is faced with at the doors.
“It is often the first thing that is thrown at me when people come to the door – ‘What is your stance on repealing the Eighth?’,” he said.
“My answer has always been that it has to be repealed.”
Deputy Buckley said it was a privilege to stand in the Chamber and talk on a very sensitive issue but also one that is long overdue to be dealt with. “The point I want to raise is the history of this country when it comes to women’s rights, which has been abysmal and shameful, and I think everybody has a part to play in that,” he said. “I want to pay tribute to everybody who took a stand in 1983, which includes women and men. If anybody wants to know how old I was in 1983, they can Google it.”
He said he was very open and he listens to all sides of the argument.
“I am lucky enough to have a wife, I have a daughter, my mother is still alive and my motherin-law is still alive,” he said.
“We spoke about this in depth. We need to look at this with realism. I would hate to see my daughter being in a predicament where the State dictates to me, my wife, my mother or my mother-in-law and says, ‘You cannot do this’, knowing that my daughter’s life could be in jeopardy. These are the realities of what is happening in life. I am serious. Do we want to go back to that? My God, it is probably one of the most shameful parts of the history of this State. I appeal to people out there to be realists when it comes to this. It is not about our political careers; it is about doing the right thing. That is what we are elected to do.”