Written Answers Nos. 277-281
277. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department or any bodies and agencies under his aegis use software and or products from a company (details supplied); and the duration and cost of the contract; and the services they avail of from the company. [33719/26]
View answerI have reviewed this matter with my officials and with officials in the Offices under the aegis of my Department and I can confirm that there is no use of software provided by this company within my Department or the Offices under the aegis of my Department nor are there are no contracts in place with this company.
I have asked the Agencies under the aegis of my Department to furnish you with a direct written response which will be submitted to you once available.
278. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the most up-to-date position on short-term lets (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33759/26]
View answer281. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when he will introduce the Short Term Lets and Tourism Bill 2025; if the National Short Term Lets Register will be in place on 20 May 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33931/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 281 together.
In April of last year, I obtained Government approval for the General Scheme of the Short-Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill. Once enacted, this Bill will provide a statutory framework for regulating the short-term letting (STL) sector, including the establishment of a national register.
The new Housing policy, proposed by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne T.D., and also approved by Government on 15 April 2025, proposes to generally preclude new planning permissions for STL in cities and larger towns. Further to this, on 9 February last, the Cabinet Committee on Housing proposed to apply this to towns and cities with populations over 20,000 persons at the latest census.
This agreement provided that, following the introduction of the STL register:
• Accommodation providers based in towns with a population of 20,000 or less at the last census based on the census town boundaries defined by CSO will have two years to meet planning compliance requirements.
• Accommodation providers based in towns with a population of more than 20,000 at the last census will need to confirm planning compliance on registration with no further lead-in period if they wish to register with Failte Ireland.
• Existing rights will be recognised, allowing properties used for short-term letting for at least seven years without enforcement action to be eligible for registration.
• It will still be possible to sub-let an entire principal private residence on a short-term basis for a cumulative period of 90 days. Where the 90-day threshold is exceeded, planning permission for a change of use is required.
These policies are part of a broader Government strategy to tackle the housing shortage by ensuring that as many suitable properties as possible are available for long-term rental.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is drafting a National Planning Statement under the Planning and Development Act 2024. This will provide a clear overall policy approach both at national and local authority level to enable planning authorities to determine planning applications for short-term lets across the country.
Failte Ireland estimates that approximately 34,020 STL properties were advertised online in the State in October 2025 based on screen-scraped data from four major booking platforms. Up to 64% were listed as entire houses or apartments. This represents a 26% increase from an estimated 26,960 units in October 2022.
The national STL register will be implemented and managed by Failte Ireland and will commence following the enactment of the necessary legislation.
Tourism is a vital part of the Irish economy, supporting 227,000 jobs and generating €6 billion in 2024. I fully recognise concerns about the impact on rural tourism and local economies of reducing STL availability. The approach agreed on 9 February will balance housing supply needs with the need to protect rural and regional tourism and jobs.
279. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise; Tourism and Employment if he will provide a list of all capital projects and programmes including those delivered through IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Fáilte Ireland which have been completed on time and within budget in Dublin in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33825/26]
View answerIt has not been possible to compile the requested information from the relevant State Agencies in the time available. The requested information will be forwarded directly to the Deputy once compiled.
280. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of companies that the State has invested in that are also subject to State regulation by a body or agency for each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the level of investment in total, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33921/26]
View answerWe received clarification from Deputy Eoghan Kenny on (Wed 06/05/2026 15:26) that this PQ would be withdrawn.
