The Housing Minister, Darragh O’Brien is to instruct County Councils to refrain from taking legal action against people who have Temporary Accommodation on their property that has been in place for many years until a complete Review of its use is conducted.
Tipperary TD Deputy Michael Lowry shared the Minister’s commitment in the Dáil with the Tánaiste Micheal Martin yesterday. In addition to the amnesty from enforcement of current planning policy Deputy Lowry is proposing that a special licence be issued for such structures for a defined period of time.
The situation had arisen due to a chronic housing shortage where a temporary dwelling on grounds of their existing property was the only option for many people according to the Independent TD.
Deputy Lowry says he wants to support and assist many such families in Tipperary who live in daily fear of legal proceedings by the Council for permitting an unauthorised dwelling onto their property and that an eviction in such circumstances would be horrendous.
Tipperary County Council Planning officials informed a recent Plenary meeting that once a complaint about unauthorised development is made the Planning Authority is obliged to investigate and take enforcement action as necessary.
