Any adult, Irish or otherwise, can object to any planning application, or planning granted, anywhere in Ireland, even if they don’t live in the same street, same county or even same country.

Beyond objecting to an application for planning permission, you can investigate whether there are any restrictive covenants on the land in question that might prohibit the development.

For neighbours and interested parties the planning portal on the local council’s website can be a great way of seeing what the people next door or down the road are up to.

If your neighbour needs planning permission, the planning officer should write to tell you a planning application has been made. You can then study the plans and raise objections.

If the freeholder wants to buy back and convert the attic of my leasehold flat, is there anything I can do to prevent it?