Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2025
275. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media how he views the short-term letting sector as a player in providing tourism accommodation, particularly in rural and coastal communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14707/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTourism is the most significant indigenous enterprise sector, employing almost 230,000 people, located throughout every corner of Ireland. The Central Statistics Office has reported that 6.6 million overseas tourists visited Ireland last year and generated €6 billion for the economy, an +11% increase on 2023. It is important that the tourism accommodation sector can offer a broad mix of properties to both overseas visitors and domestic tourists including hotel, hostel, guesthouse, camping and self catering accommodation.
According to the latest online data-scraping exercise by Fáilte Ireland c.32,000 STL properties are advertised online in Ireland. The data is based on the information contained in published listings for short term lets across Airbnb, Booking.com, TripAdvisor and VRBO, the four largest booking platforms operating in Ireland. This data cannot be regarded as definitive, but it is the best available data pending the introduction of the Short Term Letting (STL) register.
The proposed Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of a register for Short Term Letting (STL) properties in Ireland and for the implementation of the new EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation which was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026. The STLT Bill General Scheme requires Government approval to proceed with drafting of the Bill.
The introduction of the STL register will provide greater oversight of the tourism accommodation offering across the country which is necessary to support planning and policy decisions and the development and promotion of the tourism industry in the long term.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has committed to developing Planning Guidelines for the STL sector to supplement the introduction of the STLT Bill. This guidance is intended to provide clarity and certainty on the planning permission requirements in respect of STL properties. It is essential that the Guidelines offer a mechanism to ensure an appropriate balance is achieved between the STL sector and the long term housing market.
