Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of rural housing. In County Louth I am dealing with an incredible number of young couples struggling to get planning permission for their homes. Often I find they are almost demonised for asking and having the audacity to want to build on their own land and create a future for themselves in their own communities. Couples who grow up in an area expect to be able to send their children to primary schools and secondary schools in the area. Quite often we see they are not allowed to do so and are asked to move to places to which they have no connection. The Taoiseach has made commitments on this. We cannot allow the future of so many young couples to be halted. I know of families living in caravans while they wait for planning permission. This is a crucial issue, particularly in County Louth where we have a large number of people being denied planning permission for their future homes.

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