PLANNING permissions that may be running out should be extended for a period of 12 months in order to allow builders and developers to recalibrate after the Covid-19 lockdown, a county councillor has said.

Fine Gael councillor Gerard Murphy asked the council to write to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy to request a freeze or extension on planning permissions.

Mr Murphy said: “A lot of builders will be held up by this crisis and we don’t want to be running out, as building houses seems to be the priority of all councillors and parties.” The Fine Gael Councillor said the council should write seeking an extension of 12 months.

“We don’t want to face the situation where developers are sitting on land.” 

The proposal was supported by county Mayor Ian Doyle and it was agreed to write to the Minister for Housing and Planning on the issue.