Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
457. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures planned to regulate short term lets in areas outside of rent pressure zones, given that short term lets are not required to get planning permission in such areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15056/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) 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.
In parallel, my Department is currently considering options which will help inform a clear direction on what the policy approach to regulating short-term lets will be. It is important 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. This considers numerous complex 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.
My Department will develop Planning Guidelines for the Short-Term Letting sector to supplement and support the introduction of the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill, based on an approach that clarifies the balance of need between housing and short-term tourist accommodation, which may be considered on a geographic basis, and will provide clarity in respect of planning requirements regarding short-term letting properties.
