The government is to overturn its decision over proposed changes in the National Planning Framework which would prevent people living in rural Ireland developing homes in their own communities.

Proposed changes insisted that a person must have a specific economic need to live in a rural community when applying for planning permission to build a home.

However, Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Urban Renewal and Housing Pat Casey TD said the government has taken his concerns on board that will leave the social clause in place for the new National Planning Framework.

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He said: "I was shocked and angry that the changes that the Government were attempting to force through in the draft National Planning Framework would have spelled the end for community life in rural Ireland as we know it. Currently a person from a rural community can apply for planning permission to build a home under a social clause which includes them wanting to live close to their own family members. The Government wanted to bring an end to this by insisting that applicants had specific economic needs to live in a rural area in order for permission to be granted.

"This would have been a disaster for rural Ireland. I was the first TD to highlight this in the Dáil and called on the Government to back down on its plans. The proposed changes would have meant that someone working in a town or city, but who wanted to live in a rural area with their family, would have been unable to do so as they could not identify an economic need to live in the area.

"This is a major u-turn from the Government which I welcome. It means that community life can be sustained in rural communities in the years ahead."

(CD/LM)