I was driving through north Galway last week along a particularly picturesque rural lane. While trying to keep my eyes on the road, I was simultaneously having a nose at some stunning houses. Here’s the thing though, these houses, while impressive, have definitely been there a good few years, and there wasn’t a new build to be seen. There is a good chance this has something to do with the ridiculous hoop-jumping that some residents in rural Ireland have had to go to through to build a home – a process that has only become increasingly difficult in the last two decades.

But finally, there may be positive news following the long-awaited changes to planning laws with a new National Planning Statement due to be released imminently.

Ahead of the memo being presented to cabinet imminently, Jacqueline Hogge secured an exclusive interview with Minster for Housing, James Browne, about what this means for rural dwellers. And as her article on page 10 outlines, one of the big changes that is badly needed is consistency in planning between counties.

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The current rural planning guidelines, which have been in place for over 25 years, have always been flawed because they have been open to interpretation depending on your county. As the minister himself says in the piece, the different approaches to interpreting the current rural housing guidelines means that applicants, “may as well be in two different countries trying to build a house,” as opposed to two counties. The intent is that legally binding laws will take precedence on a national level.

Ridiculous time-wasting administration also needs to go, like having to get planning permission for a velux window in your home. Planners are in short supply already, as the minister highlights in the interview – and their time should be spent on assessing homes that will help to fix the housing crisis

Over the last year and a half, in our Building a Home in Rural Ireland series in Irish Country Living, Jacqueline has told countless stories of rural dwellers struggling to get planning permission. But there is one person that sticks out in my mind, and that is Martin Linnane and his attempts to build a home on his family farm in Inishroo, on the border of Clare and Galway. In the past, he has had to travel up to 15km a day to farm his land, even losing livestock during calving season because of the commute – but his planning application has been appealed by Transport Ireland Infrastructure (TII). The whole issue is around the safety of the entrance to the farm, which is on a main road – the same entrance he and his family have used since he was a child.

This is one area that will also be addressed with the introduction of the new laws. And while the TII will still have an advisory role and its reports will be considered in planning applications – no one for a moment debates the importance of road safety – the ultimate decision will rest with the planning authority.

Ridiculous time-wasting administration also needs to go, like having to get planning permission for a velux window in your home. Planners are in short supply already, as the minister highlights in the interview – and their time should be spent on assessing homes that will help to fix the housing crisis.

People staying or returning to rural Ireland is only a positive thing – it means more employment in the area, young people on the GAA pitch, getting that extra teacher in the primary school, and community interaction and growth. That all comes back to people having a roof over their head, a place they can call home – and the Government needs to get it right this time.