Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As I said, the self-catering and wider short-term letting sector is an important element of the tourism ecosystem. The tourism sector must coexist and develop in a way that recognises and is complementary to the wider needs of local communities. The long-term sustainable growth of tourism requires that appropriate balance is achieved between the short- and long-term rental sectors.

The Department of housing is the Department responsible for the planning system and is examining how best the planning system requirements can be implemented in those areas where housing demand pressure is not high but where rural tourism, in particular, is a strong feature of the local economy. Registration on the proposed short-term letting register will be a requirement for all self-catering and bed and breakfasts. For full compliance in registration, it is a requirement of all property owners to ensure that they have the correct planning permission for their accommodation offering. This requirement will also apply to self-catering and bed and breakfast properties.

Self-catering and bed and breakfasts are an incredibly important part of the overall tourism accommodation ecosystem and it is vital that, wherever possible, this is recognised in a sensitive and sensible way by the planning authorities. As I said, Minister O'Brien and his Department are working on the planning guidelines. It has been conveyed to me by the stakeholders the Deputy mentioned that this is their main concern. That is why we intend to publish the guidelines along with the publication of the Bill.

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