Co Kildare planning refusals 50% above other nearby counties being described by TD as 'intolerable'

South Kildare based TD Seán O Fearghaíl,is describing the planning situation in Co Kildare as ‘intolerable.’

From January 1, 2019, to March 31, 2019, there were 50 applications for planning in Co Kildare, 84 in Co Meath, 19 in Carlow, 43 in Laois, 41 in Offaly and 34 in Louth.

Of these applications, there were 22 once off grants in Kidare, 70 in Meath, 16 in Carlow, 39 in Laois, 38 in Offaly and 33 in Louth.

Once off refusals in Kildare were 28, Meath 14, Carlow three, Laois four, Offaly one and Louth one.

Kildare showed a 56% refusal rate, the highest among all of the counties.

Deputy O Fearghaíl, said: “I have been a public rep since 1985 and Kildare has had a rapid population growth.”

He says that to build in rural areas, conditions stipulate that the person must be the son or daughter of a farmer and show that they have been living  in the community for 12 years and rural enterprise for seven years.

Deputy O Fearghaíl said: “There are people meeting the criteria and still being refused.”

He said: “The Department of Local Government Officials have expressed their difficulty and concern with the number of once off housing being permitted in Co Kildare.”

He says that refusing planning on this scale is ‘entirely contrary to the Council’s own Development Plan and also to the national policy document,Sustainable Rural Housing, which promotes a positive presumption for certain categories of applications seeking to build in rural areas.”