Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State's decision to review SI 9 this year. It is an important signal to send out to people with one-off rural houses. I know the Minister of State is a great proponent of one-off rural houses. From my time on the local authority and from the Minister of State's membership of Waterford County Council, we both recognise that there is a very strong anti-rural house lobby, some of whom might have found a welcome home in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I am glad the Minister of State will take on that lobby with the review of the statutory instrument.

The current obligations regarding inspections and regulations for one-off houses also extend to house extensions of up to 40 sq. m, which is onerous. In many cases, this might not even involve a mortgage and might involve the person paying for it himself or herself. If it involves a mortgage, it could be much smaller than the actual cost because of savings, etc., which is also onerous.

The requirements under the existing regulation to meet energy ratings almost lead to a kind of passive house environment, which adds costs of €10,000 to €15,000. This is all having an impact on something those in my area and, I know, the Minister of State in Waterford want to sustain, which is the viability of people being allowed to construct a house on their own land in most cases. These are ordinarily the sons and daughters of farmers or landowners. If we want to maintain a vibrant community in rural areas particularly, this is something that needs to be addressed. I support the Minister of State's approach in reviewing it. I hope that review follows up with changes specifically aimed at the one-off rural house.

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