Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As I clarified in my response to the amendment, the Government is responding by means of planning guidelines for the short-term letting sector. This response does not exclude properties outside rent pressure zones. What is proposed will apply properties in rural areas that are inside and outside rent pressure zones. There is also the registration of short-term tourism lettings by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The Government is moving to regularise the sector by means of registration with Fáilte Ireland and the planning guidelines.

Again, as the Deputy said, it is recognised that the lettings do contribute to rural economies but I believe he is referring to an over-proliferation of them in areas outside rent pressure zones. Through its initiatives, the Government is acting to ensure they are brought into a regularised process.