A MAJOR change in the national planning policy to allow young people build new homes on the farm they grew up on, has been called for by a farming organisation.

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) said that ‘a radical overhaul’ of all planning laws and specifically policy relating to the National Planning Framework (NPF) and Project Ireland 2040.

INHFA National President Pheilim Molloy from Donegal said that specific elements of NPF policy actively discriminated against young people from farming backgrounds building new houses on the farm they grew up on.

“This policy has resulted in an exodus of young people from rural Ireland that is undermining the long-term sustainability of some areas.

“In larger urban areas such as Dublin, we see increased congestion and pressure on services that is clearly unsustainable,” said Pheilim Molloy.

According to the INHFA, too much power has been moved away from local authorities while at the same time ‘allowing other interests and ideologies to influence decisions in counties and regions that they may not even live in’.

Pheilim Molloy said that while there had to be a planning framework policy, the elected county councillors needed to have more control over this.

“In drafting County Development Plans we must ensure that outside influence is minimal and trust those that are elected to do right thing by the people who elect them,” he said.

The INHFA have also cited ongoing concerns expressed by the GAA in relation to rural decline and the negative impact that this is having for rural clubs in being able to field teams.

Planning restrictions have resulted in the overall rural population growing older because young people have been forced to leave their own areas when they are not allowed to build houses locally.

“Houses built in rural areas are normally cheaper that an equivalent house built in town or city, because the site is usually cheaper and this is very much the case if the site comes free, as often it will, if a son or daughter are building a house on the family farm.”

“We are reaching a critical point with regard to the future of many rural areas and if we don’t make changes now, then pretty soon it could be too late.

“Planning for new houses and infrastructural projects has become a major issue and can no longer be ignored.

“Luckily this is one issue that doesn’t cost money and if the State gets it right it could even generate revenue but we do need an urgent revamp of our planning laws,” said Pheilim Molloy.

Pictured: Pheilim Molloy: Planning hurdles have to be cleared.