A Cork county councillor has hit out at what he called a “two-tier planning system” as he shared a decision from Cork County Council who said a modular home being used to house a Ukrainian was exempted, although Irish people have been order to demolish similar structures.
Sharing the letter from Cork Co Co, Independent Cllr William O’Leary said that because the modular unit was being used to house a “displaced person from Ukraine” no enforcement action would be taken – and contrasted that with the treatment of Irish people in modular homes.
Enforcement action usually means the local authority will take the modular home occupier to court and seek to have the structure demolished – as has happened in high-profile cases such as the Meehan family in Brittas or with Seán Meehan in Cahir in Co Tipperary who has been been involved in a costly battle with Tipperary County Council who have ordered him to remove his log cabin built on his own land despite having no alternative accommodation for Mr Meehan.
Referring to Mr Meehan, Cllr O’Leary said that his case in Tipperary exposes a “two-tier planning system that no longer treats people equally”.
“Here is a man pursued like a common criminal for living in a modest log-cabin-type structure. I’ve seen the enforcement letters now being sent out, and they are designed to scare from the very first line threatening up to five years in prison and fines of up to €3 million for having a log cabin in a garden,” he wrote.
“I’ve been contacted by Irish families who were forced to take these structures down, often temporary arrangements for young people trying to work, save, and get some independence. They’re not developers or speculators, yet they’re treated as if they’ve committed serious crimes.”
“At the same time, after IPAS centres were made exempt from planning, the Government created a system where private operators can make millions, while local people are dragged through enforcement and the courts,” the Independent Cllr said.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: we’ve turned crooks into millionaires, while ordinary families are punished in their own country. That’s a two-tier system created by Government policy,” he added.
He said that he had been contacted by a resident “who raised concerns about a structure erected in a neighbouring garden including who might be living in it, which is entirely their right”.
Cork County Council had sent correspondence back to the resident which was shared with the Councillor and which he shared on social media with the identifying details redacted.
Cllr O’Leary pointed out that the resident was told that the structure could remain because evidence was provided that a displaced Ukrainian person was living there.
“Now, after all this damage, the Government talks about issuing new guidance in February, almost as if it deserves praise. Guidance that should have existed years ago. Self-praise is the worst praise when people have already been frightened, dragged through enforcement, and forced out of their homes,” he said.
“This is soul-destroying, and it’s no wonder people are fed up when they see double standards like this.”
He said it was clear that for Seán Meehan, it was a case of “Seán Go to jail for keeping his [modular home] up because he’s Irish”, but that in the case referred to in the letter County Council there was “no further action because there is a “displaced Ukrainian there”.”
“You can see the double standard for yourself,” he added. “Planning law should mean one set of rules, applied equally. Anything else destroys the integrity of the whole system.”
The government says it is currently reviewing planning exemptions to allow for the adaptation of dwellings that may include detached modular type buildings which may be used as habitable space within the boundary of a primary dwelling.