Some people find it difficult to secure planning permission on a rural site in Ireland for various reasons. It is to be generally understood that there is a predisposition to restricting rural housing to those people who may be functionally dependant on the land, or intrinsic to an area by way of background.

Generally, refusal of planning permission for rural housing can fall in to two categories: 1. Person does not have a genuine “housing need” claim (explained later). 2. Technical issues with site.