The Minister for State for Housing has promised it will soon be much easier to build one off homes in rural Ireland. 

Campaigners have long complained that the current rules are too restrictive and prevent people building in the area they live in. 

While environmentalists have noted that rural housing incurs higher costs for the State, due to the extra expense required to provide public services to thinly populated areas.

On The Claire Byrne Show, Minister John Cummins described the Government’s proposals as designed to create a “fairer” and “more consistent” approach to rural planning rules. 

He added that planning guidelines have not been updated in years and there is now a “postcode lottery” for planning permission in rural Ireland.

“What we're doing in this draft national planning statement… is about ensuring that we have clear rules if you're seeking to build a rural one off house in the area that you're from,” he said. 

“I want to see a thriving rural Ireland; Government wants to see a thriving rural Ireland. 

“In my opinion, the rules around rural one off housing have been too restrictive for too long. 

“We want to introduce a bit of fairness and a bit of common sense and a bit of practicality to rural planning in the country.”

A remote farmhouse in rural Ireland. Picture by: Alamy.com.

The Fine Gale TD added that once the national planning statement comes into force at the end of the year, local authorities will have three months to ensure compliance. 

“We are simplifying the social and economic need,” he explained. 

“Before it was quite rigid around the likes of farming, agriculture, rural enterprises. 

“It didn't capture in many local authorities the likes of people that are providing essential services in local rural areas. 

“So, if you're a teacher, for example.” 

The Waterford TD added that certain restrictions will continue to apply in the Gaeltacht, or areas considered especially scenic. 

However, overall, planning permission applications will be greatly simplified. 

“In general, the rule will be that you'll be able to build within 10 kilometers and you have to have lived at any point either consecutively or cumulatively for a period of seven years,” he promised. 

“An important change that we're introducing here is that all settlements, towns or villages below 1,500 in population, you will now be considered to have a rural housing need by virtue of being in from a settlement of less than 1,500. 

“That's a significant change.”

Main image: A house in Waterville, County Kerry,. Picture by: Alamy.com.