Ardee Cathaoirleach welcomes commitments on rural housing

Cathaoirleach of Ardee Municipal District, Cllr John Sheridan, has welcomed commitments to support rural housing made in the new Programme for Government including rural one-off homes and serviced sites in rural villages.

Cllr Sheridan said: “As we all know, planning permission in rural areas is a very challenging issue in Mid-Louth. I am constantly dealing with young people who want to build homes in the areas they grew up in but are getting refused planning permission.”

The Fianna Fáil councillor was speaking after attending the special Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis to accept the proposals in the new Programme for Government, and said that: “The new programme for government published following coalition talks makes specific commitments on rural housing: it agrees to support rural one-off homes while continuing grants for the First Home Scheme and Help to Buy Scheme.

“It also commits to expanding the vacant and derelict properties grant which have already brought so many rural farmhouses in Mid-Louth back into use.”

Cllr Sheridan continued: “I'm particularly interested in the proposal that every Council including Louth will have to develop serviced sites to facilitate between 3-10 homes in at least three towns and villages per year. This is a very welcome and sensible solution for rural areas that will allow them have extra homes in a planned manner in serviced sites.

“There are many villages in the area where we already have concern about population decline: we are seeing some rural schools worried about their enrolment numbers into the future with some GAA clubs have spoken to me worried about their numbers declining due to a lack of new houses in their area.”

Cllr Sheridan added, “finally there are commitments to waste water funding for rural villages not on mains sewerage through the 'Unsewered villages Scheme' which should similarly allow for planned housing in rural areas in a coordinated manner.

“Ultimately, this is a vote of confidence in rural areas and hopefully gives local people in Mid-Louth a road map for how more housing can be delivered in our rural areas. I will certainly be highlighting this at Council Level and with the new Minister for Housing so that it delivers rural housing for Mid-Louth.”