Taoiseach criticised over rural housing comments

The Taoiseach has been criticised following remarks he made yesterday suggesting a relaxation of planning laws to allow for more one-off house building.

The Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny and the Labour Party's Eamon Gilmore were critical of the Taoiseach's remarks which Mr Kenny said gave false hope to thousands of young people who wished to build houses in the countryside.

The Labour Party's Environment spokesman, Mr Eamon Gilmore accused the Taoiseach of adopting a "nod-and-wink" approach to the issue of rural housing.

Mr Ahern said it was necessary to persuade people of the merits of the case for allowing such housing for young couples on family farms.

However, Mr Gilmore said: "Once more, we have to rely on the 25-second sound-bite from the Taoiseach to obtain an insight into Government policy."

He said: "On the one hand, the Taoiseach is giving a big wink to people in the countryside who are selling sites or who are seeking planning permission for one-off housing, letting them believe that he is on their side."

"On the other hand the Government and Department of the Environment is giving an official nod to An Bord Pleanála to refuse the very same planning permissions."

Mr Gilmore called for a comprehensive statement of Government policy on rural housing.

Environmental groups and the planning authorities criticise one-off rural housing, saying it creates a "bungalow blitz" that spoils the aesthetic of the countryside.

Fine Gael's Parliamentary Party Chairman Tom Hayes TD said the Taoiseach was "only bluffing when he gave his backing to one-off rural housing on family farms."

He claimed that if the Taoiseach "was really committed to addressing the housing crisis in rural Ireland, he would have addressed it long ago."

Mr Ahern, however, maintains it makes no sense to refuse permission to build houses when the Government had a strategy of trying to get people to move into the regions and out of cities.