John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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1051. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of properties in Dublin being used for a service (details supplied); the number of these properties are used entirely for this service, that is, in circumstances in which the owner or family do not reside; his plans to regulate this market; if so, the timeframe for such regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12462/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not collate data in relation to accommodation let on a short-term basis for tourism purposes.

Under Action 18 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector, my Department established a Working Group in June 2017, with representatives of all major public stakeholders with a policy interest in short-term lettings, to develop guidance in relation to planning applications, changes of use relating to short-term lettings and to examine the need for new regulatory arrangements.

The proposals under consideration by the Working Group are aimed at facilitating short-term letting of accommodation within permanent residences, known as home-sharing, while protecting existing stock of residential property in areas of high demand, safeguarding neighbourhood amenity and consumer protection, and generating revenue to address any negative externalities of short-term letting.

The Working Group completed guidance for local authorities on planning applications relating to short-term lettings and my Department issued a circular on the matter last October. The Group is now working on proposals for an appropriate comprehensive regulatory approach for short-term tourism-related lettings as well as identification of amendments to legislation that may be necessary to give effect to such regulation. The draft report of the Working Group is currently being finalised and I will consider its recommendations when they are received before initiating a targeted public consultation on the proposals.