A local Senator says new rural planning guidelines should allow people to live where they want to live.
Joe O'Reilly was speaking on the Government's proposed changes of rural planning policy.
He added that he fully agrees that there is a need to focus on towns and villages but that does not exclude the possibility of people living in their community.
Senator O'Reilly noted that the changes would help sustain rural schools, GAA clubs, post offices and other community services by allowing more people to live near their families and workplaces.
Speaking on the Joe Finnegan show this morning, Senator O'Reilly said people with genuine local connections should have the right to build in their own communities, subject to normal planning regulations.