Danny Healy-Rae backs cabin unit exemptions, urges rural planning reform
Danny Healy-Rae welcomed a government plan to exempt cabin-style units at the back of family homes and urged changes to planning rules for people seeking to build on family land. He told the Taoiseach and the minister that applicants are being denied permission because of "urban-generated pressure" and called for existing guidelines to be reviewed to help young couples.
He said he was "absolutely delighted" with the announcement to exempt cabin-style units and thanked the Taoiseach and the government, describing the measure as a quick housing solution that he and his family have sought for years.
He raised cases of people who are being denied planning permission to build on their parents' or local family land, arguing they are unfairly blocked by what he called "urban-generated pressure" despite having lived in the country and not in towns or villages.
He emphasised that these applicants would "cost the government nothing" and that they simply want approval to build a home for themselves, urging authorities to give them the green light where appropriate.
He noted the issue of exemptive developments was discussed at a Cabinet subcommittee earlier in the week and said the matter should move quickly. He asked the minister to examine current planning guidelines to facilitate capacity for young couples in particular.
He observed what appeared to be a broad welcome from the Opposition for the exemptive measures, naming Sinn Féin as supportive and suggesting the Social Democrats may not back it.
Exemption for cabin-style units
He said he was "absolutely delighted" with the announcement to exempt cabin-style units and thanked the Taoiseach and the government, describing the measure as a quick housing solution that he and his family have sought for years.
Call for rural planning reform
He raised cases of people who are being denied planning permission to build on their parents' or local family land, arguing they are unfairly blocked by what he called "urban-generated pressure" despite having lived in the country and not in towns or villages.
Cost and applicants' position
He emphasised that these applicants would "cost the government nothing" and that they simply want approval to build a home for themselves, urging authorities to give them the green light where appropriate.
Government consideration and next steps
He noted the issue of exemptive developments was discussed at a Cabinet subcommittee earlier in the week and said the matter should move quickly. He asked the minister to examine current planning guidelines to facilitate capacity for young couples in particular.
Opposition response noted
He observed what appeared to be a broad welcome from the Opposition for the exemptive measures, naming Sinn Féin as supportive and suggesting the Social Democrats may not back it.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, I'm absolutely delighted today with the news that we are planning to exempt cabin-style units at the back of family homes or whatever. This is a wonderful idea. I have been, and indeed my brother might, have been looking for this for many years and never more so than now. It's a great idea, and I thank you, the government. This is a really tempted housing people, which can happen very quickly. In tandem with that, I'm asking you, Minister, there are many people being denied planning permission onto their family home where their parents have a site, are very local. They're being deprived because of a thing called urban-generated pressure. Now, urban means town or village to me. These people never lived in a town or a village. They lived in their parents' house of the country. Why are they being disallowed to get planning permission? And look, these people will cost the government nothing. They want to build a house of themselves and all they're asking for is the green light. Thank you very much, Tisha. Thank you, Deputy. I think the issue in terms of exemptive developments was raised, and we dealt with it at the Cabinet subcommittee in the beginning of the week to set and train measures to facilitate that. And I welcome what appears to be a broad welcome from the Opposition as well in respect of that. Well, maybe Social Democrats are not for it, but Sinn Féin seems to be welcoming it anyway. And so in terms of that issue, I think we will have to move that quickly. Every avenue, as I've said repeatedly here, has to be looked at in terms of increasing housing supply. And your point about people in rural Ireland who can develop housing in their own land or their parents' land, I think we have to look at the existing guidelines around that. Thank you, Tisha. To facilitate capacity for young couples in particular to do that. Deputy Cahill Crowe. We'll come back to him then.