The Government have given an extra 23 days for objections to be made to planning applications because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Environmentalists say the pause is not long enough. However, the construction industry and homeless charities are worried about delays building up in the planning system.
Attracta Uí Bhroin of the Irish Environmental Network said that people cannot be reasonably be expected to concentrate on planning applications given the extraordinary national emergency.
She said families have more pressing concerns such as loss of jobs or business, childcare and illness. However, the pause has come on top of a halt to the construction of new homes and the homeless charity Focus Ireland has warned about the future effects.