Mr. Cian ? Lion?in:

I thank the Deputy for his two questions. The 12,000 figure is only an early estimate. When we first started engaging with the committee as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny, we were asked for an estimate of how many properties could revert to long-term private renting. Fáilte Ireland did some initial work and came up with an initial figure of 12,000. It went back and did further work which we communicated to the committee in February, I think, indicating that it was 10,500, but that is only a potential 10,500. People make individual decisions when legislation changes. That is an estimate at this moment in time.

Regarding what Kerry County Council is doing as a planning authority, that is a matter for the council as the planning authority. As we have said in answer to previous questions, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage which deals with planning is developing planning guidance in this area to give consistency to all the planning authorities throughout the country and how this will be implemented in areas where housing pressure is greatest and in areas where the housing pressure is not big and where tourism is more important. We in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media have consistently said that our focus is on getting a good register in place which allows the self-catering sector to develop well and for investment into it. There is a housing emergency which is why this initiative was listed under Housing for All. It is about trying to get the right balance between the housing need and the-----