Major relaxation surrounding planning rules in rural areas to be announced

Building a home in rural Ireland is set to become much easier under new plans going to Cabinet today.

Draft planning guidelines would allow homeowners build a second one-off house on family land to facilitate downsizing, while simplifying planning rules and reducing red tape.

Local TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Minister Niamh Smyth has described the move as a relaxation of the rules surrounding building a one off house.

She said the changes will be a game changer for so many people wanting to build a home in Cavan and Monaghan.

The Fianna Fail TD admitted the rules should have been introduced before now.

Minister Smyth says this is about future proofing rural Ireland and will be extremely beneficial to people from across the region.