Roche offers hope on rural planning

STEPHEN Cadogan's report of the opening of the Tinahely show (Irish Examiner Farming, August 11) gave great hope to the hundreds of people anxious to build in rural areas, but have been precluded from doing so under current planning regulations.

With so much opposition from local authorities and others, I am very pleased Mr Roche has joined the campaign to preserve rural life by allowing families to build in the countryside. "Forcing everybody to live in the anonymity of large housing estates, on the edge of towns, is not the answer," Minister Roche said, and I agree.

At present, local authorities are approving development plans for the next five years. Will rural housing get an airing? By no means.