Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
573. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the 20,000 population threshold area will be determined with regard to the new short-term letting regulations; if specific maps or guidelines will be published; whether a “grandfathering” clause will be included and what criteria will apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16185/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra574. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to the new short-term letting regulations, whether a requirement to obtain commercial planning permission for a property will mean it will become liable for commercial rates; if commercial planning is granted for a short-term let, will there be a clear and straightforward process to revert the property to residential use in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16191/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 573 and 574 together.
The 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. This Bill when enacted will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of a register for all Short Term Lettings in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland from 20 May 2026.
Approval was received from Government on the 15 April 2025 for a threshold-based approach to generally preclude new planning permissions for short-term lets in larger towns and cities. Further to this, on 9 February last, the Cabinet Committee on Housing proposed to generally preclude new planning permissions for short-term lets in the 25 towns and cities with a population in excess of 20,000, at the most recent Census of Population, subject to Cabinet approval.
For the purpose of identifying the specific land area of a town/settlement with a census population in excess of 20,000 persons, it is appropriate to utilise the Built-Up Areas (BUAs) boundaries provided by the Central Statistics Office. Use of BUAs as the boundary for determining locations allows for clear and consistent delineation of the areas on which the population of the settlement is based. BUA boundaries are available from the CSO website.: www.cso.ie/en/.
It is intended that accommodation providers in all other locations, i.e. outside the largest towns and cities, will have an extended period to meet planning compliance requirements.
In line with existing established rights, where it can be proven that a residential property has been operated by a short-term letting accommodation provider for at least seven years and no enforcement action has been taken by the planning authority, planning permission for retention may be sought to regularise an established but unauthorised use.
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 finalising a National Planning Statement (NPS) on short-term letting to supplement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill.
It should be noted that prior to the publication of a 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.
In January this year my Department issued a Circular SPI 01/2026 Short-Term Letting and the Planning System (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/circulars/spi-012026-short-term-letting-and-the-planning-system/) to clarify the current legislative and policy framework for the regulation of short-term letting of houses and apartments and other residential accommodation in the planning system. The circular was issued to all planning authorities and service providers, as well as other relevant stakeholders.
