Rural TDs are calling for planning permission for log cabins to be scrapped so the wooden buildings can be used for housing in the middle of a crisis.
The Rural Independents group in the Dáil are calling for a relaxation of the planning laws to ”unlock the potential of sustainable log cabins” as places for people to live, and are calling for “immediate action” from housing minister, Darragh O’Brien.
Speaking from his constituency in Tipperary, the group’s leader, TD Mattie Mc Grath said: “It is unacceptable that in the midst of a housing crisis, hardworking individuals who are taking the initiative to build low footprint and sustainable log cabins on their own land are being met with unreasonable obstacles and unfair uphill battles with local authorities to obtain planning permission.
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“Irish planning laws are outdated and almost impossible to navigate when it comes to obtaining planning permission for log cabins, leaving individuals who have invested their own money or taken out loans to build a home for themselves facing insurmountable obstacles.
“Shockingly, a significant number of cases across Tipperary alone have resulted in the local authority either refusing the planning application or taking enforcement proceedings against these individuals.
“Log cabins offer a range of benefits for housing, including durability, energy efficiency, and a rustic aesthetic.
“Additionally, log cabins can be constructed quickly and efficiently, making them a cost-effective option for both builders and homeowners.
“To fully take advantage of these benefits, easing planning restrictions can help make log cabin construction more accessible and affordable for those interested in this type of housing.
“It is absurd that the current overburdensome restrictions on log cabins in rural areas are still in place when the country is facing a growing homeless crisis and needs up to 62,000 homes built per year until 2050 to meet demand.
“The provision of log cabins is a response to the housing crisis and should be supported, not inhibited, by planning regulations.
“We demand that the Minister for Housing and local government, Darragh O Brien, immediately amends the planning regulations to allow for the construction of temporary or indeed permanent structures for residential purposes on family-owned lands in rural areas. “Failure to intervene and support the provision of log cabins will mean that many more people will go into homelessness.
“That is why we are calling for action, and on the Minister to do something proactive and tangible in this area by signing a regulation to amend the planning regulations.
“Overall, the benefits of log cabins for housing are numerous, and easing planning restrictions can help to unlock their potential as a sustainable, cost-effective, and attractive housing solution.”
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