Should we allow cabins to be built in back gardens without the need for planning permission?
That's the question the Government will be asking people in a public consultation on the issue in the next few months.
It follows a commitment in the Programme for Government to look at the issue as part of plans to tackle the housing crisis.
Kate Egan examines the proposal and how it might work.
"It's great...it’s changed our lives completely. It’s essentially saved a teacher and a doctor moving country," said Laurie O'Donnell from Cork about living with her partner in a cabin in her parents' back garden.
She told RTÉ’s News at One programme that her family came up with the idea five years ago after the young couple found it too costly to rent and were not able to buy a house.
"I know a lot of people haven’t seen these cabins, they don’t know much about them.
"It’s great that it’s now in the spotlight that people can research them...they’re such a good solution to such a big problem."
Damien Owens, Engineers Ireland Director General explained that cabin type structures could help to relieve pressure on the housing market if they are introduced with some measure of control.
"I think it certainly has merit, but it just needs to be thoroughly investigated.
"So we’re going into this with our eyes open and we can see the consequences and that all agencies and utilities are involved in that discussion...so that we can scope out what the requirements are and maybe trial it in some areas...before it goes nationwide."
Mr Owens also said that if these structures are allowed to be built without planning permission, then consideration needs to be given to the impact they could have on the infrastructure, such as water, sewage and electricity in built up areas.
It has been suggested that one way of addressing these concerns could be to introduce certain conditions before exempting such structures from planning permission.
Chair of the Law Society’s Environmental and Planning Practice Committee and partner at Philip Lee law Rachel Minch said for example, in relation to this type of proposal, "would you need to formally notify the planning authority that you are building a detached cabin or modular home to the rear, and possibly also need to register it so there is some level of oversight?"
Another issue for homeowners to consider is the possibility of seeing their local property tax bills increase.
The Revenue Commissioners said anything that increases the market value of a property, such as a garage, shed or a cabin, would affect a local property tax calculation.
But for Laurie O'Donnell and her partner in Cork, being able to live in her parents' back garden has been the difference between staying and not emigrating.
"He was looking at the possibility of medicine in Poland or the UK, because we just couldn’t afford to live in this country.
"This has saved us and helped us stay here, so at least the country is not losing another doctor or teacher."
