John Cummins

Now, moving on, long-awaited rural planning reform made the headlines this week again.

According to Minister of State for Planning, John Cummins, the inconsistent approach to rural housing policy will come to an end once new planning guidelines are published.

But Aisling, have we any more clarity on when final guidelines can be expected? And maybe you can tell us a bit more as to why these are so important when it comes to the future of rural housing.

Yes, Kathleen.

And certainly, it seems that where you live in this country could be the difference between getting the green light on a project or not.

Now, the inconsistent approach to rural housing policy will come to an end once new planning guidelines are published.

That's according to the Minister of State for Planning, John Cummins.

And he told the Joint Committee on Housing this week that the national draft statement for rural and Gaeltacht planning, which was unveiled by the government in June, is currently being assessed under EU environmental directives.

We're continually hearing about how judicial reviews are being speeded up or rules are being loosened.

Today, for example, the Minister of State, John Cummins, has reported in the Business Post... to be planning only to require full environmental impact assessments for developments above 750 units with regulations to be changed by the end of this month.

How can you guarantee that in speeding things up, we're not going to make the mistakes of the past?

Well, that was one of our actions.

attacking a man sat in a car unable to defend himself.

John says this attack and the previous incidents with Micheál Martin is showing the venom that's out there against the government.

John says that people are sick of how the government are carrying on.

But John says that violence isn't the answer.

But he feels it's not going to stop if the government doesn't start making changes.

John, thank you for... your call in to Sean.

And I just see here, just in the last 24 minutes ago, Michael Healy-Ray has released a statement.

He said, following an incident in Dublin yesterday, I want to sincerely thank the Gardaí at Kevin Street Gardaí Station.

And I don't know, was it given by, was it, yeah, was it delivered by, it was.

It was delivered by the minister, John Cummins.

Uh, "An outstanding common sense presentation on the government's new planning act at the Celtic Ross last night to a massive crowd," says, who's this? From Caroline Cronin, who is a councilor in the Bantry, uh, um, area.

She said, "The minister expects that these measures," this is the new planning act, "will be law by the new year.

Trojan amount of work has gone into it by Minister Cummins and his team.

It will be a real shake-up in rural planning," said Councilor Caroline Cronin, and that has caused Current planning rules have caused so much heartache to people in West Cork, especially young couples and their families, and a lot of people would agree with that.

And Michael in Castletownbere says, "I sat with that large crowd of people, and I witnessed Minister John Cummins deliver the presentation on his new planning act, which he expects will become law early next year.

Some things," said Michael, "I've been waiting for for a long time.

Do you share those concerns?

Look, I think what has happened in the housing sector in recent times with Minister James Brown and Minister John Cummins has been exceptional in terms of the change that we're seeing, the initiatives that have been brought forward, the likes of even modular homes.

It's not one size fits all.

It's a raft of different initiatives and I think we are seeing creativity, innovation and they are making a difference and I think that's the trajectory that we need to continue to go on.