Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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169. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the working group review of a company (details supplied) and regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15959/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Strategy for the Rental Sector, approved by Government on 13 December 2016, is structured around 4 key areas: security, standards, supply and services. The measures under these four headings will be implemented through the 29 actions contained in the Strategy.

In terms of supply, the focus in the strategy is on maintaining existing levels of rental stock and encouraging investment in additional supply. There are shortages in the supply of rental accommodation in key locations, particularly in urban areas. In some of these areas there is also significant demand for transitory short-term accommodation. In this context, providing short term rentals at higher prices may be an attractive option for landlords. However, a determination by An Bord Pleanála in a particular case has determined that the exclusive use of a residential apartment for short-term holiday lettings is a material change of use requiring planning permission.

The implications of this case have raised a number of regulatory and other related issues, such as tax liability, residential tenancy regulation, support for tourism, and planning. The Strategy for the Rental Sectorprovides for the establishment by my Department of a working group, comprising representatives of relevant stakeholders including local authorities, relevant Departments, public bodies and other interests in the area, with a view to providing more information on the scale and nature of the issue and full clarity regarding the appropriate regulatory approach to be adopted in relation to short-term tourism-related lettings. The working group is due to report in Quarter 2 2017.

The Rental Strategy is a set of prioritised and sequenced actions, a number of which involve interdepartmental working groups. These are being established and are commencing their work in accordance with the timeframes in the Rental Strategy. Other working groups with shorter timeframes have already started work and the working group in question will commence its work shortly, including considering its working arrangements, allowing it to report within the timeframe outlined in the Strategy.

Officials from my Department are in active discussions with organisations involved in short term letting with a view to establishing collaborative agreements within the coming weeks to ensure that those involved in such letting have all required planning permissions.