Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
368. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a change can be made to planning regulations for houses that were developed as holiday homes, that they can be bought now for full-time residential homes where the septic tank meets or can be adapted to meet regulations, given the ongoing housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42514/23]
View answerUnder the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), new development for use as a holiday home or homes requires planning permission.
It is considered that change of use of a permitted holiday home to a place of permanent residence would be a material change of use that requires planning permission.
If the owner of a holiday home proposes that the premises be used as place of permanent residence, they may lodge a planning application to the relevant planning authority for a change of use from holiday home to residential use. It is a matter for the planning authority to decide such applications on a case-by-case basis.
Holiday homes are often located in relatively more remote areas and/or may be on land which is specially zoned for such development in the Development Plan and/or Local Area Plan, e.g. a “resort” zoning. Different design layouts and standards may also be applied to holiday homes than to permanent residential development and the planning authority’s policies on rural housing may also apply differently to holiday homes than to permanent residential development, all of which the planning authority would have to consider, in addition to the local housing needs requirements policy as set out in the authority's Development Plan, when making a decision on a change of use application.
I have no plans to amend the existing provisions in this regard at this point in time.
