A Laois TD has called for planning rules to be reformed to make it easier for farming families to build homes and lives on their own land.
Fine Gael’s Willie Aird highlighted that current restrictions, such as the ‘five-in-a-row’ rule—which prevents more than five houses being built in a row along one side of a road over a 250-metre stretch—are forcing sons, daughters, and successors to leave the communities where they were raised.
“For generations, families in rural Ireland have lived, farmed, and contributed to local communities,” Deputy Aird said.
“Yet current planning rules are making it harder for them to remain at home.
“If we are serious about sustaining rural life, planning policy must reflect local needs and family connections.”
While some councils have shown leadership in facilitating rural housing, Deputy Aird called for a consistent national approach.
He noted that the Government’s national Planning Statement must prioritise rural housing, streamline processes for family applicants, and revisit outdated restrictions on ribbon development.
“Farmers and their families should be supported to build on their own land, and I will continue to raise this issue to ensure that rural communities can thrive,” he concluded.
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