Only a quarter of applications for one-off rural houses were refused by Kerry County Council last year, according to figures just released.
The number of applications for individual houses, along with the number of housing developments being applied for outside the main urban areas in Kerry far exceeded the projections based on population needs.
The new figures coincide with a refusal by An Bord Pleanála for a 14-house development near the village of Dungeagan in Ballinskelligs Bay. The board said it refused the development to protect the rural landscape.
The village has become well-known for its gallery which serves the nearby Cill Rialaig artists' retreat centre at Bolus Head.
Last year, excluding Tralee, Killarney and Listowel, planning applications were decided upon for some 1,900 individual houses. Almost 75 per cent were granted, the rest refused.
An Bord Pleanála overturned an additional 65 individual houses after third-party appeals against grants of permission by the council. In all 169 appeals were made, with the board upholding the vast majority of the council's refusals.
In addition some 543 housing developments (of more than one house) were sought, more than half of which were granted.
According to the county development plan, the number of new houses projected to meet the increasing population demand outside the main towns last year was just over 700.
Anne Lucey
© 2007 The Irish Times
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