Renewing the call for flexibility in log cabins in Laois

The council was called upon again to allow people to live in log cabins.

Sinn Féin leader Caroline Dwayne Stanley said she knew many people who lived in log cabins.

“They are there temporarily for maybe five years or more to try to save money so they can build their own homes,” she said.

She said planning regulations had been “turned on their head” to try to accommodate others.

“We have to make provisions for people in log cabins. We have to be somewhat flexible,” Cllr Stanley said.

“These people will eventually build on their own sites. They cannot go and rent a private house for 1,200 or 1,400 euros and also save it to build their own house,” she said.

“From my walks, you can see caravans popping up in the back yards of everyone’s properties. We’re going to have to face this reality, it’s the housing crisis we’re facing,” said Cllr Dwane Stanley.

She said the council should be flexible with people and give them the opportunity to raise a deposit for a mortgage. She said that this issue should return to the Council for consideration.

Independent James Kelly insisted the council needed to act on the issue.

“Housing is a key issue as always,” Cllr Kelly said at a recent Laois County Council meeting.

“The log cabins. The need for this council to look at that as an alternative because we’re talking about the number of people entering this country that we’re trying to house but we also have a long waiting list for housing,” Cllr Kelly said.

He said he could not “for the life of me understand how the Government could begin contingency planning” for people on the council’s housing list for model housing.

“All that’s been in the news today is that the average cost of a three-bedroom semi-detached house is around €305,000, in Offaly €215,000 and in Laois €265,000,” he said.

Noting that the affordable housing scheme was intended for first-time buyers, he said it would be very difficult for anyone to enter this scheme with a total maximum per household of €64,000.

“It’s not ideal log cabins, but at least if some or a couple can get a log cabin, at least they won’t be at the mercy of the owner,” said freelancer Ollie Clunie.

“If they get a log cabin in a few years, they might be able to buy a house,” he said.

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran agreed with councillors.

“We are facing a housing crisis and we have to start helping people here,” she said.

Director of Services Angela McEvoy said the Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) met two weeks ago to discuss the log cabins.

She said they hope to have something to present to the council for consideration before the end of the year.