Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
671. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to urgently review the proposed short-term lets legislation and take into consideration a submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6413/26]
View answerThe EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026. This Regulation lays down harmonised rules on the collection and exchange of data on short term rental services for member states, hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services, and online platforms that offer services to hosts providing short term accommodation rental services within the EU.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) has drafted the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill General Scheme in full alignment with the STR Regulation. The introduction of the STLT Bill will provide a more effective legal and administrative basis to regulate short-term lettings. The proposed STLT Bill will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of a register for short-term lets in Ireland and for the implementation of the new EU STR.
Following the approval received from Government on the 15 April 2025 to generally preclude new planning permissions for short term lets in large towns and cities, my Department is working to give effect to this decision. To ensure that there is a clear view, both at national level and local authority level, as to the overall policy approach to determining planning applications for short term lets, my Department is currently developing a National Planning Statement (NPS) for the short term letting sector to supplement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill. It will consider a variety of factors, such as existing planning legislation, the long term housing need in the local authority area, the location of the proposed short-term let and balancing housing need with the potential impact on tourism and economic development.
In advance of the publication of the NPS, local authorities can continue to make decisions on applications for change of use in respect of short term letting properties. The decision of the local authority will be informed by local policy contained in the City and County Development Plans and Local Area Plans where applicable.
On issuance of the NPS on short term letting, the decision making of local authorities in respect of material change of use applications for short term let properties will be informed by the policy contained within the NPS. This will allow for consistency in decision making throughout all local authorities areas, including in respect of the general preclusion of permission for short-term lettings in large towns and cities.
My Department has met with various stakeholders such as booking platforms and industry representatives during the development of the NPS for the short term letting sector. The legislative basis for a NPS is contained within the Planning and Development Act 2024. The relevant provision governing NPS's commenced in October 2025.
My Department has also established a Working Group, consisting of members from my Department, Department of Enterprise Tourism and Employment, and the County and City Management Association, in advance of finalising the NPS on short term letting. The group will provide a forum for input into proposed policy formulation and guidance documentation development by my Department.
