Reaction: Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats are set to reap significant rewards in the upcoming local elections following the Government's decision to encourage the construction of once-off houses in rural Ireland.
The changes announced by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, were cautiously welcomed by the Opposition last night, though some Opposition TDs fear the Government will gain heavily from the decision.
Fine Gael TD Mr Bernard Allen, the party's environment spokesman, said "good planning practice and environmental protection" that would create sustainable rural communities were vital.
"In giving a guarded welcome, one must be mindful that this is an election year and also bear in mind that the National Spatial Strategy, announced two years ago, lies dormant," he said. The Minister, he said, must now explain how the guidelines announced yesterday will be incorporated into development plans already drafted by local authorities around the State.
The Minister's announcement was timed to reap the maximum political benefit from the Fianna Fáil ardfheis, which is taking place in Citywest Hotel in Dublin this weekend.
The issue featured prominently during the party's conference held in Killarney, Co Kerry, late last year, where delegates repeatedly voiced fury at restrictions on once-off housing.
Green Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent said the Minister's guidelines would store up problems for future generations and create more pollution, traffic and social isolation.
"Ireland is already the most car-dependent country in Europe. These guidelines will only make matters worse," he said, adding that the guidelines could be used to justify "almost any once-off house".
"Instead of opening the floodgates for one-off houses in almost any location, the Minister should be encouraging new development in our towns and villages."
Labour TD Mr Éamon Gilmore said the guidelines had more to do with "keeping an eye on the forthcoming elections than to the planning of housing in the country.
"These draft guidelines have been introduced in the absence of any serious research or analysis done into the reality of rural housing."