Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It was a disgrace that the Government only announced on 1 May the grants for older people and people with disabilities. That is a joke given that four months of the year have passed.

On one-off planning in rural Ireland, rural areas are facing significant challenges, with depopulation, ageing infrastructure, local schools finding it hard to keep their numbers up and GAA, soccer and other sports clubs amalgamating because of low numbers. One-off planning is a critical tool for addressing these challenges and ensuring the long-term sustainability of rural communities. By allowing individuals and families to build homes on their own land, we can create vibrant and thriving communities that are able to grow and adapt to changing circumstances, stop depopulation and keep rural schools and sports clubs going.

One-off planning also has significant economic benefits. It can help to create jobs in the construction and building sectors, which are vital to the rural economy. It can also help to attract new businesses and investment to rural areas, allowing them to contribute to the local community. One-off planning is a valuable tool for tackling the housing crisis in rural Ireland by providing more affordable and diverse housing options. We would be able to keep young people and families in rural areas and we could also create more diversity in the housing market, which is essential for meeting the housing needs of different demographics and lifestyles. For example, some people may prefer to live in a smaller, energy-efficient home, while others may require a larger home for their family. One-off planning can accommodate these different needs by allowing people to build different homes that are tailored to their specific needs or requirements.

Sinn Féin supports people living in the countryside. Addressing rural housing challenges must be done in a way that halts population decline, promotes vibrant communities and keeps schools and GAA clubs going. Families are struggling to put a roof over their heads because of the policies of this Government and previous Governments. In a housing crisis, An Bord Pleanála is holding up 70,000 houses that are awaiting a decision. That is almost two years of housing supply. Why is An Bord Pleanála not held to the same standards as local authority planners, with timelines for applications and penalties for missed deadlines, especially for one-off planning applications? This Government does not seem to understand the crisis in housing, be it urban or rural. One-off planning is vital to survival of rural Ireland.

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