Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is an important issue for the committee. It is something I raised when the two Departments and Fáilte Ireland were before us. We should be legislating and making policy on the basis of evidence and fact. There is no evidence before us to show that by the introduction of this legislation, in particular in the absence of the new planning guidelines, this will lead to a significant number of long-term rental accommodation units being made available. This is the concern that is being very clearly reflected. Dare I say, it is possibly notable that nearly all of those who have been raising questions on this have been Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Deputies and Senators from outside the major urban centres. The impact of something like this could be devastating on rural and coastal communities.

I appreciate the difficulties for Mr. Redmond in trying to get the data. I suspect we will see a small number of additional properties in some of the urban centres but no additional rental properties becoming available in rural and coastal areas. Like Ms Casey's situation, I know lots of coastal operators with a summer home where it is fine to stay in the middle of July and August but they will not convert that into a long-term rental for the year. In particular because of the support that has to be given to emergency accommodation, it will have serious implications. In light of the testimony today, but also after what I consider to be the rather disappointing evidence that was provided by the Departments, I honestly do not believe this legislation should proceed until we get sight of the planning guidelines and an assessment is made of their impact.

Second, we need more data. If the 12,000 figure could be stood up, we would be having a very different conversation in this room. I certainly do not think we can do that at the moment.

Perhaps Ms Casey or Ms Ní Mhurchú might want to respond to my next question. If the legislation does proceed, do they have any idea as to how many of those rural members may look to transfer into long-term accommodation? Have any of their members indicated they would do so?