Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise a serious local issue for the people of north Louth, that is, the Louth County Council draft development plan and the fact that this process is going ahead during the Covid pandemic despite the restrictions in place in terms on meetings, including in people's houses, to discuss the plan's detrimental consequences. To say that it restricts one-off housing is not true. It does not restrict one-off housing, it prohibits it in many locations. The McGreehans have lived in Castletowncooley since the 1700s. This plan would ensure that the McGreehan's would never be seen in the 2100s in that it will displace an entire population. We are investing in rural schools. In 15 years time, under this development plan, there will be no new houses or young families living in their local areas.

When I raised this at council level a council official looked at me like in a funny way because I would like to live where I grew up and where my people are. If I lived in a town and I wanted to move a few houses down the road to be close to my mother that would be acceptable but that is not acceptable in rural Ireland. We need to call a halt to development plans at this time. It was mentioned that people can access the plan online. People in north Louth do not have broadband. Some of them do not even have a landline never mind broadband such that they can go online to investigate or review the draft development plan.

I urge the people of north Louth to review this draft development plan and to make submissions to ensure it is stopped. It is not right. It prohibits people living where they belong.