Ms Lorna Cahill:

I will add to that. At a recent conference, the issue of whether it would be change of use was raised by Fáilte Ireland which then said, in fact, it is commercial planning we should be applying for and not change of use. We were then compared with the case of using my home and my granny flat as a hairdresser; it would be exactly the same thing. Therefore, I must apply for commercial planning. That was the first time we have heard the term "commercial planning". That then brought up all the other issues around rates, etc. As Ms Cronin-Falvey said, we have informed our host groups for the past two years that they would have this six-month period. That disappeared two or three weeks ago.

Also, when we go on to register, it is a five-minute process. We go in, we register our PPS number, name, address - blah blah blah - and then we have the question, "Are you in compliance?" It is a self-declaration. It is not evidential so we do not have to put in the proof but what are we in compliance with? We do not know. Are we in compliance with planning? Now, there is mention of fire regulations and building regulations so, no. I can tell you now there will be very few hosts who will be in compliance. My little granny flat, which will not be compliant, is now gone.