Agricultural Construction in Ireland: Issues and Strategies Concerning Substandard Farm Building Developments

The construction industry in Ireland is heavily regulated, and typically abides by a rigorous planning process with strict rules and regulations. However, one area that has been subject to much scrutiny and confusion is agricultural construction, which has been described as a law unto itself. It fails to meet construction standards set by most other sectors, and this is evident throughout the country. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate Irish planning and construction procedures within an agricultural context. It aims to unearth reasons why, despite recurrent, and sometimes fatal accidents, the agricultural construction industry is permitted to continue using alternative, more lenient regulations, compared to other building sectors throughout Ireland. A mixed methods research approach is adopted, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Following a descriptive literature review, four individual interviews with participants from diverse agricultural backgrounds are undertaken, followed by a confirmatory questionnaire survey. This approach is implemented due to limited previous research on the topic and allows for greater scope during data collection. The results indicate that themes such as a lack of funding, cultural issues, inexperienced personnel, and weak existing legislation are recurrent issues evident throughout the study. Strategies to counteract the identified issues include more government funding such as grant aided schemes for farmers, stricter planning procedures to adhere to, and more formal training for planning inspectors and officials. Ultimately, the key contribution of this study illustrates that the current system is no longer fit for purpose, and identifies key issues and weaknesses, as well as outlining various strategies to develop and improve planning and construction processes, for agricultural construction developments in Ireland