New Rural and Gaeltacht Housing Guidelines Published; Child Poverty Reduced by 0.7%
New draft planning guidelines for rural and Gaeltacht housing are being published, easing restrictions for local residents and those whose jobs require rural living. Additionally, a protocol for domestic violence survivors on housing lists will be noted, and a 0.7% reduction in child poverty has been reported. Ireland's EU Council Presidency and an International AI Summit are also on the agenda.
New draft planning guidelines for rural and Gaeltacht housing will be published today, aiming to provide more consistency and allow new rural homes while preventing urban sprawl. Minister for Housing James Browne and Minister of State John Cummins are bringing these proposals to Cabinet. Applicants must demonstrate local need, typically having lived in a rural area for up to seven years, with their site 3km to 10km from that locality.
In Gaeltacht areas, the residency requirement for applicants will be five years for Irish speakers, down from ten years, and the site must be within 3km. Planning will also be eased for those whose jobs depend on rural living, excluding remote work, covering sectors like farming, equine, forestry, and local teachers. Houses must be permanent main homes for at least ten years and cannot be used for short-term rentals.
Separately, Minister Browne will ask the Government to note a protocol allowing domestic violence survivors to transfer social housing waiting list time between local authorities. Taoiseach Micheál Martin will report a 0.7% reduction in child poverty between September 2024 and December 2025. Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee will update Cabinet on Ireland's EU Council Presidency, focusing on competitiveness, economic security, Ukraine support, and EU enlargement. Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke will brief on the International AI Summit, a flagship event of the presidency. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers will outline a new Benefits Realisation Framework for public sector bodies to better explain project benefits and reduce objections.