TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has said the government is preparing the “biggest overhaul of rural housing rules in two decades” to make it easier for families to build one-off homes.

At a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting this evening, Harris said that they represent a fundamental shift away from “overly rigid and restrictive planning practices that have held rural communities back for too long.”

It is expected the government’s new National Planning Statement will no longer allow local authorities to impose restrictions on ribbon and back land development.

They will also remove the caps on the number of homes that may be built on farm holdings.

These restrictions have been the source of frustration over many years, the Fine Gael leader told his TDs, senators and MEPs.

They come just weeks after the government faced intense criticism during the fuel protests for cost of living issues in rural communities.

The changes will also aim to allow anyone with a social or economic need to live in a rural are, or those who have lived in a rural area for a defined period of time at any point in their life, to have a ‘reasonable expectation’ that they can get planning permission.

Such moves will likely prove controversial with planners, as the restrictions on one-off housing are designed to prevent sprawl.

Similar moves were flagged by the Taoiseach at the Fianna Fáil party think-in last September, as part of a policy shift to allow people to build on their own land.

It would mark a departure from policies under the last government, which included the Green Party, who were strongly opposed to building large numbers of one-off rural houses.

It is understood that normal planning considerations for a home will still feature as part of the shake-up, but the move would still represent a major shift in rural housing policy.

Harris also said it may now be possible to address rural and Gaelteacht planning together given the interactions between rural housing generally and housing in Gaelteacht areas.

Approximately 5,000 one-off homes are built annually, but with the relaxation of these rules, Harris hopes that number will increase considerably.

The proposals will come before the government next month.

Harris told the parliamentary party meeting that Housing Minister James Browne and his Minister of State John Cummins are finalising the National Planning Strategy of which will be brought to Cabinet in early June.

Cummins has met with the Fine Gael TDs and senators as part of this process.

Harris also said the Irish Water capital plan for improving the country’s infrastructure – which has often held up housing projects – is in the final stages of approval.

The Tánaiste said this was part of an effort to ensure a laser-sharp focus on delivery from the government.

It’s understood he also emphasised that Fine Gael needed to prioritise an income tax package and childcare in the upcoming budget.

With reporting by Christina Finn