A memo outlining new planning guidelines for rural and Gaeltacht housing will go to cabinet on Tuesday from Minister of State with responsibility for housing John Cummins and Minister for Housing James Browne.

More clarity and consistency will be provided in the draft national planning statement (NPS) by defining the relevant planning criteria on where and how rural housing can be developed.

Under the new plans, those with a local rural housing need will be facilitated, while preventing urban sprawl in rural areas that are identified as being under urban development pressure, and encouraging the regeneration of rural towns and villages and responding to rural depopulation.

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The changes will mark a significant shift away from restrictive planning practices that have been a frustration for people for many years.

The draft statement explains how someone can show they have a local need to build a house in certain rural areas where these requirements apply.

Local needs criteria does not apply within rural settlements (having less than a population of 1,500 as per the most recent census year), but do apply in rural areas under urban influence and the Gaeltacht.

There are two main ways to qualify, where a person looking to build a new single rural house can show either a social need or an economic need.

Social need

The applicant must have lived in the rural area for at least seven years at any point in their life.

The site for the new house should also be in or near that area, generally up to 10km from where they currently live or originally come from.

Some flexibility is allowed in the draft statement in how local social need rules can be applied within a permitted range in different rural areas, depending on how much pressure they are under from development.

Stricter social need criteria apply in areas under the most development pressure from nearby cities. In city metropolitan areas, a person must have lived within 3km of the site for up to 10 years. This is to stop rural areas turning into commuter suburbs.

In certain high-amenity areas, a person must have lived within 5km of the site for up to 10 years. This is to prevent too many holiday homes being built.

In Gaeltacht areas, the applicant must live within 3km of the site and must have lived there for 10 years.

However, to help protect and support the Irish language in these areas, this can be relaxed to five years for people who speak Irish and can show a local need.

The changes for Gaeltacht areas were put forward by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

Economic need

This applies to people whose main job depends on living in a rural area (remote working does not count) and they need to live close to their workplace - it includes jobs such as farming, equine, forestry, working in essential services such as a teachers in local schools or people starting or running a rural business.

A grant of planning permission will also include a condition to make sure the house is used as a permanent main home for at least 10 years and cannot be used for short-term rentals during that time.

The draft statement will also address backland, infill and ribbon development and has to undergo the relevant environmental screening, meaning the changes won’t come into effect until later in the year.

Minister of State for planning John Cummins said the draft changes represent a “fundamental shift away from the overly rigid and restrictive planning practices that have held back rural communities for too long”.

“The Government recognises that one-off rural homes remain an important part of rural life and we are appropriately making it easier for people to live close to their families and remain within their communities.

“Currently, rural housing policy varies significantly from county to county and one of the primary aims of the draft national planning statement will be to ensure clarity and consistency across the country.”