"Louth appears to have the lowest approval rating for one-off rural housing in all of Ireland"

Fianna Fail candidate for Drogheda Rural, Tomas Wilkinson, has called for an urgent review of the Louth Rural development plan due to a worrying trend now becoming evident across the county.

Outlining the need for a review, Wilkinson said: "Since starting my campaign two weeks ago, an alarmingly high number of people have discussed with me the issues they have had gaining approval to build a home on family land.

"These queries have come to me mainly in Termonfeckin, Monsterboice, Clogherhead, Tullyallen and the surrounding areas.

"Following these queries, my research into this matter has shown that more than half of the planning applications received by Louth Council up until July 2023 in Zone 1 which includes Drogheda Rural and Zone 2 (Mid-Louth) have been denied. This information came to light due to my party colleague Cllr James Byrne’s question to the council.

"Indeed Louth appears to have the lowest approval rating for one-off rural housing in all of Ireland.

"This is staggering, especially during a housing crisis, to not allow young families to remain in their communities and use generational family land.

"Indeed, this policy will drive families to purchase homes in housing developments, which deprives other families of buying a home where they don't have the option to build one.

"This in turn forces some of these families to remain in rental accommodation which then leads to the inflated rental prices we are currently seeing.

"If elected, I will call for an immediate review of the Louth Rural Development Plan 21-27 and ask why it is easier to gain planning permission in any other part of Ireland but not Louth, as the figures suggest."