New Inn log cabin case raised at Tipperary council meeting in wake of court adjournment

A councillor has urged Tipperary County Council to work with public representatives assisting Sean Meehan with his planning difficulties over his unauthorised log cabin home in the wake of the two month adjournment of the enforcement court prosecution against him.

Independent Cllr Máirín McGrath raised the latest development in the New Inn man’s case at Cashel District Court at the Council's monthly meeting in Nenagh on Monday and indicated she wished to speak to the Council’s Director of Planning about the case outside of the meeting.

“We are all aware of the court decision to defer Sean Meehan’s case to see if he can get (planning) retention,” the Newcastle councillor told the meeting.

“I am asking that the Planning Section would work with all the councillors engaging with this case.
“We have documents to support Sean’s case. We have been given an opportunity to come to a fair outcome for Sean and in everyone’s interests,” she added.

Sinn Féin Cllr David Dunne said he supported Cllr McGrath’s comments in relation to the Sean Meehan case, which he urged needs to be sorted out.
The Carrick-on-Suir councillor criticised Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien for the delay in issuing revised planning guidelines on modular and mobile homes which he has promised several times due to the housing crisis.

He believed the publication of these guidelines will take the pressure off the local authority. Otherwise, he feared the council will end up in court again.

Independent Cllr Andy Moloney said there needed to be a discussion on the council about what was allowed and not allowed in relation to mobile home developments and enquired about the workshop on modular homes requested at a previous council meeting.

He pointed out that there were a lot of professional young people coming out of college, who couldn’t afford to get on the property ladder and may need this type of accommodation for a few years until they can afford to buy a home.

Director of Planning and Development Services Sharon Kennedy responded that the council was not going to make any observations or comments in relation to a particular court case.

And she understood the workshop on mobile homes did take place.

Ms Kennedy noted that in considering planning applications for mobile homes, the council didn’t just need to take into consideration the nature of the building. There was also the site, the social and economic need of the applicant, road safety and environment issues.

A mobile home development needed to fit in with all the policies in the County Development Plan and had to meet the same standards as other housing developments, she added.