AS PLANNING RULES are being shifted by the government to allow homeowners to rent out modular cabins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that the change is for “practical reasons”.

It was originally intended that garden cabins would only be used by relatives “in the short-term”. However, these new plans will allow these units to be rented under the Rent-a-Room relief scheme – which provides tax-free relief of up to €14,000.

When the changes were announced, Threshold raised concerns that garden cabins could be rented out without appropriate inspections.

Speaking yesterday about the plans, Martin said that the move is about “alleviating pressures on the housing sector”.

“Our population is growing, we are part of the European Union, many people come from the European Union to work in Ireland in many of the technology companies and our health services and so on,” he said.

“Having a variety of accommodation options, I think, is important and makes sense.”

Martin accepted that this would be “a new departure”, but added that the government would keep the measures under review.

We want to hear your thoughts on the situation and Martin’s comments.

So, we’re asking: Do you agree with the Taoiseach’s comments?