Tipperary County Council say they are working with people in unauthorised homes

Tipperary County Council have said they are working with people to get planning permission in place for modular and log cabins.

Director of Services for Planning and Development Sharon Kennedy told last week’s council plenary meeting that the section does not have a policy against temporary dwellings.

However, she said they do have to be assessed under the usual planning codes and in line with the County Development Plan.

“We fully understand the pressure on housing, but the legislation is clear,” said Ms Kennedy. She said they would continue to work with individuals to ensure they become compliant with the law retrospectively.

Ms Kennedy was responding to a query made by councillor Mairin McGrath, who said she has been helping a pensioner who has been ordered to vacate a temporary dwelling on his own land.

She said a recent parliamentary question by TD Mattie McGrath suggests there is no prohibition on what materials a structure is built from.

She said this is an issue affecting many people and asked the planning section to comment in light of the Minister's response.

“We all know several people in these structures, some with enforcement notices,” said Cllr McGrath.

Leaders Questions

Cllr McGrath was referencing a question put forward by Deputy McGrath to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on January 31, 2024.

The deputy asked if the minister would provide details of a request to Tipperary County Council to review the situation of log cabins and provide a copy of the correspondence.

He also asked the minister to ‘urgently’ update the rural planning guidelines to “loosen the restrictions on modular/log cabin type accommodation.”

The minister responded, saying all structures needed planning permission unless they are exempt.

However, the legislation does not prohibit the use of timber as a building material. The answer also says:

“In addition, there is no restrictions under the planning code for any person to apply for planning permission in respect of modular/log cabin type accommodation.”

In other words a person may build a modular home or log cabin, but they must have permission from the Local Authority.

That application must follow all the statutory requirements of any other dwelling.