Almost 76,000 one-off rural houses constructed

Almost 76,000 rural one-off houses were built in the Republic in the decade to 2002 and about one third of all new housing is now individual homes in rural areas, the Department of Environment said yesterday.

Giving evidence to the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment the assistant secretary general, Ms Mary Moylan, said 75 percent of planning applications for rural one-off houses in the ten year period were granted.

Counties with more than 50 per cent of one-off houses included Galway (63.1 per cent), Monaghan (54.1 per cent), Roscommon (52.5 per cent), Cavan (52.4 per cent), and Leitrim (52.3 per cent).

The figures were, however, contested by the Fine Gael TD for Galway West, Mr Padraic McCormack, who maintained the Co Galway figure did not include Galway city and he accused the Department of distortion. While many parties at the committee yesterday complained of poor State research in the area, the Labour Party environment spokesman said overall growth in population at 5 per cent, was behind the growth in rural houses which was at least 26 per cent.

This could indicate that either families were building new homes for offspring or that many houses were holiday homes.

In a submission on behalf of Bord Pleanála the chairman, Mr John O'Connor, told the committee that he had not seen any firm proposals to establish a board designed to speed up the passage of critical infrastructural projects through the planning process

Responding to questions he said the Government had not contacted or consulted the board about the proposed Critical Infrastructure Bill. While there had been consultation about efficiency, that was expected. Mr O'Connor said there were significant increases in staff numbers and efficiency at the board in recent years and 80 per cent of all cases during September were disposed of within the statutory 18 weeks. Of 1,300 cases, 240 took longer than 18 weeks, while 38 took more than 26 weeks.

Asked by Labour deputy Mr Eamon Gilmore if the board felt a critical infrastructure bill or new agency was necessary, Mr O'Connor replied that was "not the board's business to decide on legislation". Mr Gilmore replied that he was "drawing my own conclusions from what you are saying".

The Kerry TD, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, said there was startling similarities between the board and An Taisce in the approach taken to one-off rural housing and he said: "Is it right or wrong for me to ask are they members of An Taisce."

The chairman said it would be wrong to ask.