Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 56:

In page 42, after line 36, to insert the following: “Report on impact on heritage

7. An Chomhairle Oidhreachta shall, following consultation with experts on heritage, produce a report and submit it before both Houses of the Oireachtas not later than six months following the enactment of this Act, examining the impact of this Act on built and cultural heritage and the consistency of this Act with the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, and proposing recommendations to address any issues identified.”.

These two amendments would try to ensure that following the passage of the Bill we would have a report or an assessment. In the first instance, under amendment No. 56 there would be an assessment of the impact of the Bill on the built and cultural heritage and the consistency of the Act with the Historical and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, and if there are issues we address them as quickly as possible so there is no lacuna where assessments are made. Bheadh the Heritage Council, an Chomhairle Oidhreachta, ag féachaint ar an gceist seo níos mine agus bheadh muid ar fad ansin gafa leis an tuairisc a bheadh ann chun a dhéanamh cinnte de nach bhfuil an reachtaíocht seo ag teacht salach ar an gcur chuige atá ag an gcomhairle, an cur chuige atá leagtha síos sa reachtaíocht atá ann cheana féin maidir le hionaid oidhreachta, seandálaíochta ná staire sa cheantar.

Amendment No. 57 seeks that An Coimisiún Tithíochta, following discussion with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Gaeltacht language planning officers, produce a report looking at the impact short-term letting is having on Gaeltacht communities, the affordability of housing for Irish speakers and the knock-on effect for the sustainability of the Irish language. This is something we have discussed quite frequently and there have been a number of protests outside the gates here by BÁNÚ, which the Minister is well aware of. He has met it and consulted with it. Short-term letting is having a huge impact. There is a need for us to ensure this happens. This is why we are using this as a vehicle to try to ensure there is a report and a timeframe set out here to ensure laistigh de sé mhí go mbeidh an tuairisc seo ann agus go mbeimid dá réir ag bogadh chun déanamh cinnte de go mbeidh tacaíocht reachtúil nó maoinithe ar fáil.

Is gá le seo chomh maith le cinntiú nach bhfuil sé chun leanúint ar aghaidh go mbeidh na Airbnbs nó a leithéid ag cur as do phobail na Gaeltachta sa bhealach ina bhfuil siad. Tuigimid go bhfuil siad ag tabhairt tacaíocht turasóireachta do na ceantair, ach murar féidir le daoine maireachtáil sa Ghaeltacht, agus murar féidir leo tithe a fháil ar chíos nó a cheannach, ní bheidh pobal ann amach anseo. Tá an pobal cheana féin ag dul in aois toisc nach féidir le lánúin nó le teaghlaigh bogadh isteach sa cheantar. Sin an fáth go mbím de shíor ag cur as don Aire Gaeltachta ag lorg na treoirlínte, ionas gur féidir linn iachall a chur ar na comhairlí contae an jab a dhéanamh a bhí le bheith á dhéanamh acu ar feadh na blianta agus go mbeidh tuiscint ag pobal na Gaeltachta go bhfuil an Stát ag tabhairt cosaint dóibh is go bhfuil sé chun cuidiú leo teacht timpeall ar ceann amháin de na fadhbanna atá acu: tithíocht. Ní hí sin an t-aon fhadhb atá acu; tá fadhbanna eile acu maidir le Uisce Éireann, mar shampla. Seo ceann de na fadhbanna breise gur gá dóibh plé leis. Ní bhaineann sé le cúrsaí séarachas nó le cead pleanála. Ní hiad sin amháin na fadhbanna móra atá ós a gcomhair. Cuireadh na fadhbanna sin ós comhair an coiste agus luadh nach raibh ach ceithre arásáin ar fáil ar chíos agus go raibh 293 Airbnb ar fáil i lár mhí Feabhra, am nach mbíonn mórán turasóirí sna ceantair Gaeltachta. Bhí sé chomh lom sin.

In February of this year in one part of the Connemara Gaeltacht, only four places were available for rent while there were 293 Airbnb properties available. That is how stark the issue is. Families cannot move back into the area and new families cannot move out of their parents’ houses. Added to this are the problems we have raised on several occasions with the Minister regarding planning permission and the need for the infrastructure that Uisce Éireann is not delivering because it prioritises bigger schemes. The schemes I am referring to are often quite small. They are in environmentally sensitive areas, which we understand, but the report I am looking for needs to be produced. Regardless of whether this legislation is the most appropriate place to refer to it, having a reference in legislation means it will be produced. If we wait for the Minister present or any Minister to deliver, going by the yardstick of the treoirlínte-----

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