Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I agree with her. I did not believe I would have here today a Minister of State who lives in the same constituency as me. Let me quote the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown development plan, on which we are ad idem. It states it should be the policy of the planning authority to consider new proposals for one-off housing in areas outside the boundaries of established settlements, in accordance with the rural housing objectives and subject to compliance with normal planning and environmental criteria, and to encourage the renovation and reuse of existing traditional farmhouses, buildings such as traditional stone buildings and other buildings of local heritage merit for residential use or indeed tourism-related accommodation, subject to compliance with requirements on protecting the local character and the visual amenities. The plan also states rural housing should be sensibly sited, designed and landscaped in keeping with the character of rural areas. I am really referring to the mountains within our own county. The development plan of the local authority in question, of which the Minister of State and I were members, is progressive. That is the sort of relevant and future-proofed policy we should be embedding in our rural housing policy. Again, I thank the Minister of State.