Leitrim V Sligo - councillors clash on air over modular housing and planning
Leitrim councillor James Gilmartin clashed with Sligo councillor Michael Clarke on Oceanfm this week on the topics of modular homes and planning permission in Leitrim.
Leitrim councillor James Gilmartin clashed with Sligo councillor Michael Clarke on Oceanfm this week on the topics of modular homes and planning permission in Leitrim.
They were speaking after a proposal to grant planning exemptions for modular homes of up to 45sq.m in back gardens has been brought to the Cabinet.
The homeowner must be living in the primary dwelling and separate entrances and a certain distance from the main residence will also be required, and the garden must be at least 25sq.m. The owner can receive €14,000 in rent tax free annually.
Cllr Gilmartin said that the topic of modular homes was raised with him repeatedly during his campaign trail in 2024. "A lot of time it was people who had reared their family and were sitting in a house and wanted someone to come back and be able to live in the area and felt this was a good avenue."
He stressed: "It's not a one size fits all for everyone; within rural Leitrim where there are a lot of houses with just two people living in them, you have the aspect of building a modular home and the older parents can move into it; it's a real and tangible choice for people."
He noted that it was also proposed that home extensions will be increased from 40 square metres to 45 square metres. "One person said to me, 'I'm fed up cleaning empty rooms'. I think this gives people real options going forward."
He said modular homes could be instrumental in terms of "getting people back into areas" in north Leitrim such as Rossinver Kiltyclogher and Glenfarne and added that "to say there is a planning problem in Leitrim is false", in response to a comment made by Mr Delaney.
Cllr Gilmartin went on to say that of 32 one-off green field sites that were applied for in Leitrim last year, three were pushed forward to 2026 and 27 were granted full planning permission.
He noted that Leitrim County Council in conjunction with Trinity College are pioneering a new approach to wastewater treatment in rural Ireland using the natural capabilities of willow trees.
Cllr Michael Clarke said the government has gone "rogue" and "turned the army on their people in peaceful demonstration and these announcements are being rolled out by well-spoken bluffers to cover up what's happening in this country."
He said: "It's extraordinary what has happened in rural Ireland in relation to the lack of of planning permissions granted to people; young people have been driven to Australia and out of this country because of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and the people that support these governments for the last 25 years."
He continued that former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was supported by "Fianna Fail and their supporters to downgrade rural Ireland with the lack of infrastructure and development and people not being allowed build on their own homes."
Cllr Gilmartin agreed that "there are many of aspects in which rural Ireland has been left behind and the reason people may not be apply for planning is the cost of it and this is a pre-fuel issue but to say they are not giving planning is creating any agitating situation and that's not the kind of councillor I'd like to be; I want to deal in facts and figures and try my best to improve things going forward."
Cllr Clarke said that Cllr Gilmartin had "no figures for the amount of people refused at pre-planning level in Leitrim and I know from the amount of people contacting me on a daily basis for people returning home from other countries."
Cllr Gilmartin expressed doubt that people from Leitrim are contacting a Sligo councillor with Cllr Clarke taking issue with his comments.
Cllr Clarke went on to state that in relation to modular housing regulations, it can only be given the green like if "the septic tanks are able to handle the extra volumes. You can't buy a modular home and plant it somewhere."
The clashed again over these remarks with Cllr Gilmartin saying he agreed with this statement.
Cllr Gilmartin said he "wasn't an apologist for Government" with Cllr Clarke refuting this statement.
Cllr Gillmartin added he was trying to find "solutions not fault".
Cllr Clarke said, regarding modular homes, he believed there "will be uptake all over the northwest and it'll suit older people who want to move into a smaller building and allow their family to move into their home."
Cllr Gilmartin then responded, "Well then we agree on that," to which Cllr Clarke stated that the "reason this is happening is because of the failure of this government that Councillor Gilmartin supports."
Mr Delaney said that Cllr Gilmartin was "an Independent councillor like you; I don't think he supports the government" to which Cllr Clark responded that he believed he did.