Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like my colleague, Senator Kevin Humphreys, I welcome the decision made by An Bord Pleanála to uphold Dublin City Council's decision on the requirement to have planning permission for the short-term letting of apartments in Temple Bar. I have no doubt that the situation impacted on the homeless crisis in Dublin. The Government’s rent-a-room scheme and the increased provision of apartments might help to ease the problem. However, there is an issue which I raised some months ago in terms of how Airbnb was helping to resolve the crisis arising from the lack of hotel bedrooms in Dublin city centre. I understand more than 3,300 rooms in Dublin are being used for the purposes of Airbnb which I have used when I have travelled to attend meetings in London or elsewhere in the country. In effect, one can obtain good value in renting a room at a time when one cannot find a hotel room for less than €200. The same is happening in Dublin. Because of the shortage of hotel rooms, effectively hoteliers are trying to fleece many tourists, as well as Irish people who come from rural areas and simply cannot find a hotel room. We need to examine the issues of homelessness and the lack of accommodation, but we must also consider the problem overall. I would, therefore, like the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to come the House but also the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for a debate on how we can get things right. I welcome the decision, but it may result in a shortfall of 3,300 beds that will impact on the viability of the tourism industry in the city centre, in particular.