Call them ‘seomraí’, ‘shedsits’ or garden cabins, the Government’s plan to relax rules on garden dwellings is dividing experts
The debate explores if exempting small secondary dwellings ("seomraí" or granny flats) from planning permission could help tackle Ireland's housing crisis. Supporters say it could create up to 350,000 housing options and point to New Zealand's success. Critics worry about eroded standards, unintended consequences like overcrowding, lack of amenities and potential problems in urban and rural areas.
