Planning laws restrict rural resettlement, group claims

HUNDREDS of families can’t settle outside Dublin because strict planning laws won’t allow them build country houses, a resettlement group has said.

Rural Resettlement Ireland (RRI) chairman Jim Connolly has criticised planners over their failure to encourage building in depopulated areas. Almost double the number of planning applications are being rejected than accepted in some rural areas, he said.

And rural communities are losing out on millions of euro because resettlement groups can’t get planning.

The groups want to build houses in rural areas and rent them to families seeking to leave towns and cities.

RRI was set up in 1990 in an effort to stem population decline in Co Clare and the voluntary group has helped 500 families relocate to depopulated areas in 19 counties.

“We have areas that have suffered huge population losses and we can’t get planning permission because the region is visually sensitive,” Mr Connolly said. The group helps revitalise rural parishes by increasing their population and helping to maintain social and economic activity.

“In moving to the country, families free up much-needed housing in urban areas. At the same time they bring life back to many closed-down rural houses and generate additional income for their owners,” Mr Connolly said.

In 2001, RRI purchased 16 sites in Co Clare where they plan to build houses under the Voluntary Housing Rental Subsidy Scheme (VHRSS).

Planners recently gave seven houses the green light but Mr Connolly said several applications were rejected.

Other counties including Mayo, Limerick and Offaly joined the rental subsidy scheme but no houses have been built outside Clare.

Meanwhile, Independent Mayo TD Gerry Cowley has called for greater representation for rural residents on national planning bodies.

Dr Cowley, who is a founder member of the Irish Rural Dwellers Association, is demanding the group is granted the same status as An Taisce.