Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask the Tánaiste about the building of houses. Over the last number of years, scores of families have called into my constituency office with problems in this regard. Local need rules from 2005 are still in place. These rules prevent people from owning their own house. I hear from families who live in the countryside and have sites they got from their father, mother, granny or aunt and on which they are not allowed to build. I also hear from families living in villages who want to move to the countryside because their family has gotten bigger and the house they live in is too small. The local needs rules are preventing us from building these houses. Local authorities all seem to have different rules. I will say one thing. The Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, has done a lot of work on this issue in recent years, and I thank him for his work. I believe the EU will issue new directives in October this year. When can I tell these people the good news that they can build in their own community?

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