Transport authority's 'crazy' planning objections 'killing off' rural West Cork

Numerous cases have emerged of Transport Infrastructure Ireland objecting to plans by children of farmers who want to build homes on family land along the N71 in West Cork

Up to 60 tractors and 100 farmers protested on Monday at Cork County Hall as part of their 'Enough is Enough' campaign which aims to highlight farmer's frustration at regulations being imposed on them. Cork Central Chair Matt Hurley (left) delivers a letter to County Mayor Cllr Frank O'Flynn. Picture: Andy GIbson

Children of farmers who want to build homes on family land are being stymied due to planning objections by transport authorities — a "crazy" policy that will "kill off rural Ireland", it has been claimed.

Numerous cases have emerged, according to several Cork county councillors, of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) objecting to such plans along the only main road in West Cork because it doesn’t want more vehicles accessing the N71 from side roads.

TII does not have the authority to refuse planning, which lies in the hands of the local authority. However, its observations invariably carry weight with planning officials when an application is made.

Mayor of County Cork, Fianna Fáil councillor Frank O’Flynn, described the situation as “crazy” after his party colleague Joe Carroll revealed the true extent of the issue.

Mr Carroll claimed children who live in the family farm home and who want to build next door are being denied planning, even though they'll still travel on the same access road onto the N71. He said if adult children live in the farmhouse, they already use their cars to get on and off the road. He asked how it could make any difference to traffic volumes if they move to their own home next door.

Mr Carroll said

This is effectively sterilising places in terms of planning.

“There was a time when an applicant would be allowed access through parents’ road (onto the N71), but now they can’t get it. This will kill one-off rural housing in these areas. I want a strong letter written to TII to review this. We're in here (this chamber) to keep life in rural Ireland,” he said.

The N71 runs from Cork, through Clonakilty and Bantry and onto Kenmare, Co Kerry.

Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy added: “Our N71 is nearly not fit enough to be called a regional road, less a national route," claiming he'd had similar complaints.

“A son of a famer was turned down (for planning) even though he’s in and out of that road every day.”  Mr Murphy said another was refused a house on his mother’s land on a road “which runs to Bantry golf club". 

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Fianna Fáil councillor Bernard Moynihan pointed to similar issues on the N72 in North Cork. He said a landowner who wants to fell 40 acres of forestry has been refused access to carry to timber onto the road.

Independent councillor Frank Roche maintained everybody born on a farm should be entitled to live there if parents provide them with a site.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael councillor Susan McCarthy said despite the axing of funding for the N25 upgrade between Carrigtwohill and Midleton, a land corridor for it is still imposed by TII in case it should happen.

In the meantime, she said, people can’t build or even sell existing houses there because it's prohibited.