Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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145. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason Fáilte Ireland was tasked with the design and implementation of a short-term lettings registration system; if the basis of this decision will be outlined; if any other agencies were considered to carry out this work, including his Department or an official housing body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35062/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Legislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector through the planning code, in areas designated as “rent pressure zones” (RPZs), were introduced under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 which came into effect on 1 July 2019.

The broader regulation of tourism activity, including the possible development of a new regulatory or licensing/registration system for commercial platforms and short-term letting agents, was recommended in the final 2016 Oireachtas Working Group report on the regulation of short-term letting. The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future includes the specific action to strengthen the regulatory and enforcement mechanisms with regard to short-term lettings. The Government's subsequent Action Plan on Housing, Housing for All, further contains a specific action (Action 20.4) - to “develop new regulatory controls requiring short-term and holiday lets to register with Fáilte Ireland with a view to ensuring that houses are used to best effect in areas of housing need”. 

As some elements of potential regulation of the short-term letting market fall outside the remit of my Department, I engaged with my colleague the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on this matter. Meetings also took place at senior official level between our two Departments, which also involved the participation of Fáilte Ireland, to explore the possibilities of developing new proposals in relation to the regulation of the short-term letting sector which are now being progressed.

As the National Tourism Development Authority and given it's current role in the regulation and registration of other forms of tourist accommodation, Fáilte Ireland is considered to be the most appropriate agency to administer the proposed new registration system for the short term letting sector.