Not enough planning permissions granted for rural homes in County Kildare

Kildare County Council is too keen to refuse permission for one off houses in rural areas and other counties are more likely to grant permission for these dwellings, it was claimed at a KCC meeting.

KCC has refused the vast majority of applications since September - that’s according to south Kildare politician Martin Miley who said parts of the county are seeing population decreases.

Businesses and post offices  are closing and in some areas there has been a drop in numbers attending primary schools.

Cllr Miley also said that GAA clubs will struggle to find players unless this issue is addressed.

He said the “social and commercial need to live in a rural area” should be facilitated by the council looking positively on applications to build homes in country areas and he was supported by the councillors.

Cllr Brendan Weld said this was allowed for in the County Development Plan which should be implemented adding ”we have a housing crisis”.

And Cllr Mark Stafford warned of a two tier scenario within County Kildare where urban areas will continue to grow while rural parts are left behind..

Cllr Mark Wall predicted “complete rural isolation” in south Kildare and warned schools will close if pupil numbers fall.

“We are not far off losing schools,” he said.

Cllr Brendan Young said the lack of water and sewage infrastructure is also an impediment to development and he said the main political parties were responsible for allowing urban areas to develop as they have.

“We’ve started to discriminate against people who live in rural areas, where they grew up or where they can be beside their parents,” said Cllr Carmel Kelly.

However KCC Director of Services Peter Minnock said the planning appeals board had upheld all of the decisions made by KCC in this category.

Chief Executive Peter Carey said KCC is keen to strike a balance between the needs of the community and development plans and this is being addressed by KCC.