Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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144. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will invoke Article 6(7) of EU Directive 2015/1535 (details supplied) to ensure the register of short-term lets comes into effect without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15841/23]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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146. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when hosts (details supplied) can expect to receive full details of the short-term letting register; when this register will become active; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16019/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 to 144, inclusive, and 146 together.

On 7 December 2022 the Government approved the priority drafting of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill and publication of the General Scheme of the Bill which provides for the registration of short-term tourist lettings with Fáilte Ireland in line with the commitment under Housing for All,the Government's housing policy.

I subsequently wrote to the Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media regarding the Bill in line with agreed protocols for pre-legislative scrutiny. Officials from my Department, along with officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and from Fáilte Ireland attended a meeting of the Committee in public session for pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme on 25 January. I look forward to the report of the Committee which is anticipated in the week beginning 17 April.

On 21 December the proposed STTL Bill was submitted to the EU Commission pursuant to Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535. Such a notification triggers a standstill period of 3 months during which the proposed Bill cannot be enacted.

On 22 March 2023, the Department received a communication from the EU Commission which extends that standstill period until 22 December 2023. The Department is now examining the communication from the EU Commission and will engage with it and stakeholders on next steps. The analysis of the communication from the Commission will inform the timeline for the commencement of the legislative process and the subsequent establishment of the register.