The Social Democrats have criticised the Government's proposal to raise the size limit for cabins or garden homes to 45 sq.m, calling it a "half-baked plan" to relocate people into what they describe as "glorified garden sheds."

The Cabinet was informed that a public consultation on the proposal to increase the permitted size for such structures to 45 sq.m will launch today.

This is larger than the original suggested upper limit of 40 sq.m.

Under current rules, an extension to the rear of a property is exempt from planning once it is 40 sq.m and is attached to the property.

Under the plan, the units must comply with building regulations while the size of the residual private garden space of 25 sq.m must be retained and set back from boundary walls.

To discuss this further, Derrick Lynch was joined by Timmy Dooley, Tulla-based Fianna Fáil Minister of State and Donna McGettigan, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Shannon TD.