Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Daft.ieis a great platform which I use myself but it has a direct interest in the property sector so we should not elevate its reporting to the same level of what a Government or State agency report might say. We look to the Residential Tenancies Board for reports on what is happening in the rental sector. Daft.ieis only one of many platforms with properties to rent so it does not show the totality of the market.

Airbnb is also a great platform but we do know that we have an issue with Airbnb lettings taking away rental properties in high demand areas from long-term renting and we know we have to manage those issues. We also know that more than 80% of the hosts on Airbnb in Ireland are home sharing. They go away for a week or two or a weekend and they let out their property. That helps them pay for the holiday, pay their bills and cover the mortgage. Airbnb is an important platform as well but it is true to say that we do have to make changes to protect the rental sector from too many properties being lost in high demand sectors to Airbnb. The lack of supply is what is pushing up rents. New protections that we are bringing in for renters is priority legislation for the Government.

The report on Airbnb is not sitting on my desk. It is being finalised at the moment in the Department and we will come forward with the report shortly and the changes we are going to make in relation to Airbnb and what is happening in the rental sector more generally.

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