Report Paul Murphy
High numbers of people who built structures in Meath without planning permission were allowed retain the structures, according to statistics released by Meath County Council. Over the past 10 years 2,752 applications for retention were made to the council and of these 1,847 were successful, 67% of the total over a ten year timeline.

The figures were released following an application to the council chief executive by Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín. She asked for the total number of applications, the number of applications refused and the number that were withdrawn.

Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín requested the breakdown on the number of houses that succeeded with planning permission after they had been built.

These were the details supplied by the council –
2016 – 262 applications (A), 181 granted (G), 15 refused(R), 66 withdrawn/incomplete (W/I)
2017 – 242 A, 178 G, 6 R58 W/I
2018 – 234 A, 176 G, 7 R, 58 W/I
2019 – 280 A, 182 G, 18 R, 80 W/I
2020 – 196 A, 125 G, 17 R, 54 W/I
2021 – 293 A, 209 G, 25 R, 59 W/I
2022 – 341 A, 211 G, 42 R, 88 W/I
2023 – 320 A, 210 G, 26 R, 84 W/I
2024 – 299 A, 194 G, 35 R, 70 W/I
2025 – 285 A, 181 G, 14 R, 83 W/I, 7 awaiting decision.