Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
351. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to urgently consider a waiver in respect of planning permission for short-term lets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36088/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. In line with the proposed introduction of DETE’s STLT Bill, all short-term letting accommodation providers will be required to register with Fáilte Ireland, as part of the registration process, accommodation providers will need to confirm that they are planning compliant.
Government has approved a threshold-based approach to generally preclude new planning permissions for short-term lets in larger towns and cities. Further to this, the Cabinet Committee on Housing have proposed that the threshold be set at towns and cities with a population in excess of 20,000, amounting to twenty five towns at the most recent Census of Population. It is intended that accommodation providers in all other locations, i.e. outside the largest towns and cities, will be able to avail of an extended period to meet planning compliance requirements.
Furthermore, 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. The preparation of the draft NPS is largely complete, with the NPS being informed by the work of a Working Group (comprising my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the County and City Management Association) and further engagement with relevant stakeholders.
