The Minister for the Environment's plan to curb the number of one-off and small-scale cluster housing in the countryside has been criticised by the chairman of the Fine Gael party, south Tipperary TD Tom Hayes.
The proposal by John Gormley would have a dramatic impact on the number of people living in rural areas, Mr Hayes said yesterday.
"The Green Party had a tiny share of the vote in the general election, and their support is confined mainly to urban areas," he said.
"To unfairly and unnecessarily limit the traditions of rural living is an undemocratic act from Minister Gormley, whose small mandate does not reflect the draconian stance he is taking."
The Minister's measures would curtail the very type of rural development that should be encouraged, he said. "These include new developments in the form of controlled, low-level clusters of four or five houses on the outskirts of a village, sharing a single entrance."
Mr Gormley should encourage villages that provided for people's needs with schools, lighting and infrastructure, and that would encourage people to leave the greater Dublin commuter belt, Mr Hayes added.
Meanwhile, the Irish Rural Dwellers Association called yesterday for an urgent review of the composition of An Bord Pleanála on the basis that its membership may be unlawful.
The association said it was concerned after recent appointments further increased the number of State employees on the board and claimed it excluded a broad range of people from the community. It said all but one of the 11 board members came from professions or occupations relating to planning, engineering and architecture.
The association noted that this was despite the fact that membership could be drawn from a range of areas, including trade unions and the community, voluntary, youth and disability sectors.
It said the Government could also appoint people from the arts, farming or construction sectors.