Sinn Fein’s Tipperary Cllrs David Dunne and Annemarie Ryan are welcoming the news from the Government that detached cabins and modular style buildings placed at the end of gardens are set to be exempt from planning under new measures being considered by the Government – however no timeline for this change is agreed as of now,.
Both Councillors have been pushing Tipperary County Council to facilitate such homes given the housing crisis. A motion from the two councillors last October called for the establishment of a working group of Councillors and officials from Housing and Planning interested in researching the potential use of modular homes/log cabins/mobile homes, as a means of providing temporary solutions to the current housing crisis with the intention of submitting a proposal to the Department of Housing, for consideration. This group is now formed and is working on submitting its findings to Housing Minister James Browne.
Cllr David Dunne is calling for the measure to be implemented as soon as possible while Cllr Annemarie Ryan says the use of log cabins and modular homes could help temporarily alleviate the significant pressure families and individuals are facing but says the Government’s whole Housing For All programme needs a radical rethink given that Housing is the biggest crisis facing society and requires emergency actions. The Government is to launch a new Housing Policy before the end of the year.
Meanwhile Labour’s housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD describes the policy announcement as a mere headline grab rather than tackling the root causes of the housing disaster.
The newly elected Limerick TD says the proposal amounts to an admission of failure in delivering real housing solutions adding that the “proposal to move working adults from the inside into the wooden shed at the end of the garden is like something from a dystopian movie.” Deputy Sheehan says it is not a long-term substitute for proper housing, affordable housing, supply of rental homes or action to address financial barriers to homeownership.
