renovate derelict building or knock it and rebuild

Hi there,
My family own land in Co Limerick and part of it has an old house that is still standing but has not been lived in for over 30 years at least... I am intertested in building a house on the same site. I am wondering whether it will be possible for me to renovate the old building without planning permission or whether it would be more advisable to knock the existing structure and build a completely new house on the site.
Any advice appreciated!!

Thanks

if you knocked the old 'shell' down , would you get planning permission to build a new structure? I 'd find out first before I did anything.

Knocking and rebuilding is generally cheaper - but that would depend on the state of the current house and its suitability for your purposes.

A word of advice: DO NOT KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE - until you get Planning Permission. If there is an existing house on site, you can replace it (provided the proposal fits in with the area); but if it is knocked down, there is no guarantee of Planning.