Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I am not sure if they were following the earlier session when members expressed frustration about the lack of hard data, particularly in terms of how short-term letting is affecting Dublin city. What most of us were urging is the need for regulation of this sector to ensure that it does not have the type of negative impacts just outlined.

The recommendations outlined by Mr. Doherty at the end of his contribution are particularly helpful and I will be urging the committee to take them into account when it comes to producing its report. I have two questions for the witnesses, the first of which relates to enforcement. In his submission, Mr. Doherty mentioned two potential areas of enforcement. Has the Peter McVerry Trust made planning enforcement complaints to Dublin City Council? We heard earlier from the council officials that they are only responding to complaints made rather than proactively looking at issues. If the Trust has not already made complaints, I urge it to do so or to provide us with the information so that we can do so. We would be keen to do that.

I am particularly interested in the recommendation relating to planning around change-of-use applications, which we are examining in the context of the vacant homes issue. Am I correct in stating that what the trust is recommending is a ban on change of use from commercial to residential for the purposes of short-term lets? Perhaps Mr. Doherty would elaborate.