Social Democrats can’t make up their mind on modular homes – Boland

The Social Democrats criticism of plans to expand the use of planning exemptions for modular homes fall completely flat after the party called for similar measures in their own manifesto, a Fine Gael Deputy has said.

Deputy Grace Boland said that a planning exemption for small, standalone structures on people’s own land would help ease some housing pressure.

“Housing is this Government’s number one priority and that is why Minister John Cummins, who has responsibility for planning and local government in the Department of Housing, is looking at pursuing planning exemptions for detached modular-style homes at the rear of a dwelling.

“Its ridiculous that the Social Democrats are up in arms over this when their own election manifesto commits to multi-annual funding for modular homes. They admit that “some flexibility is warranted”, yet don’t want to support the potential solutions.

“They also called for the publishing and enforcing of development guidelines which would allow for

more exemptions for smaller projects[1]. This is exactly what we are looking to do by allowing exemptions for small detached modular-style homes.

“Deputy Rory Hearne today criticised the government for “a lack of openness to new ideas”, yet it’s the Social Democrats who are refusing to acknowledge a good idea that goes further than their own plans.

“Introducing this exemption would allow for a younger person to live independently of the family home, or it also offers the parents an option to right-size but allow them to stay in their own community. It is not the perfect solution for the housing shortage, but it is a lever that should be looked at.

“This is one of many measures that the Government is looking at, including the implementation of the Planning and Development Act and the revised National Planning Framework which seeks to ensure there is a sufficient amount of zoned and serviced land to increase housing output.

“We need creative solutions to increase housing supply and unlike some opposition parties, Fine Gael are clear in our commitment that we will do everything possible to ensure we can deliver housing options for people”, concluded Deputy Boland.

[1] https://www.socialdemocrats.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Housing-1.pdf

(Pg 12)