2 days ago
Cabinet to discuss detached modular home planning rules
Detached modular homes up to 45-square-metres built in a back garden will be exempt from the requirement to seek planning permission under proposals to be discussed by Cabinet today.
The plan is being brought forward by Minister of State for Planning John Cummins along with Minister for Housing James Browne.
The proposed changes include allowing an exemption for detached modular homes to the rear of a dwelling with a size up to 45 sq.m.
The unit must comply with building regulations while the size of the residual private garden space of 25 sq.m must be retained and set back from boundary walls.
Under current rules, an extension to the rear of a property is exempt from planning once it is 40 sq.m and is attached to the property.
Minister Cummins has said the plan is a practical and common-sense move which will provide housing options for people such as those with a disability or young persons who wish to live independently of the family home in the short term.
It will also give the option for parents who wish to right-size within their own community while maintaining the support of their family.
A four-week public consultation will begin today.
Electricity supply bill
A new law with the aim of strengthening the resilience of the electricity grid will also be discussed by he Cabinet today.
The bill is a response to the prolonged electricity outages seen after Storm Éowyn earlier this year.
Minister for Energy Darragh O'Brien is bringing the outline of the Electricity Supply Amendment Bill which will set standards for forestry maintenance and planting.
Storm Éowyn caused extensive and widespread disruption to the electricity network, with damage ranging from broken poles and lines to significant destruction in several areas.
The storm exposed critical vulnerabilities regarding unmanaged vegetation and commercial forestry close to electricity infrastructure.
The bill will set out a statutory regime to safeguard electricity infrastructure when passing through forestry.
It will give additional vegetation management powers to ESB Networks, and the attachment of maintenance responsibilities to landowners with a compensation mechanism to their interests.
Infrastructure report
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers is to bring a report by the department's infrastructure division outlining barriers delaying the delivery of infrastructure following consultation and engagement.
These include the increased regulatory and legal burden for those developing key infrastructure, inconsistent planning decisions, and limits on regulatory agencies' ability to prioritise and consider wider societal aims and limited public awareness of the consequences of poor infrastructure.
The report will place a heavy emphasis on the impact of judicial reviews and the growing threat of judicial reviews on the delivery of key infrastructure.
It is estimated that the planning and consenting process for critical infrastructure takes three to five years longer due to the added threat, duration and impact of judicial reviews.
Exclusions Ireland campaigned for in EU-US deal
The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke is to update the Cabinet today on details of the trade deal between the EU and US.
Mr Burke will outline some of the carve-outs or exclusions Ireland had campaigned for as part of the negotiations, including a zero-for zero-arrangement on aviation.
Minister Burke will also set out the supports that are available from Enterprise Ireland for businesses impacted by the 15% tariff on most goods exported to the US.
The supports include a new market research grant of up to €35,000 available from next month.
It will be available to companies to assess the impact of tariffs and other trade measures and to develop measures which will address pricing, supply chain and cost challenges.
The minister is also set to update his colleagues on the views and concerns of the IDA and key business voices as a result of the trade deal, as the work continues on working out the finer details of the framework deal.
