Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The proposed Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Short-Term Tourist Letting (STTL) Bill will, when enacted, provide the statutory basis for the establishment of a register for all Short-Term Tourist Lettings and will enable the required implementation of the new Short Term Rental Regulation (STR).

This Bill remains the subject of ongoing engagement with the EU Commission in accordance with the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535. I am informed by my colleague, Catherine Martin, TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, that as part of this engagement, officials from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (TCAGSM) and from Fáilte Ireland met with representatives of the Commission in Brussels on 11 December 2023 and then, on 15 December, provided a formal response to the Commission’s communication of 22 March 2023 setting out the proposed approach to achieve alignment between the proposed STTL Bill and EU law, in particular the new Short Term Rental Regulation (STR). On 9 February 2024, the Commission responded positively regarding the principles outlined in Ireland’s formal response and to suggest that further consideration was required to ensure complete alignment. The DTAGSM officials met again with the Commission on 21 February in this regard and to provide further clarifications on the proposed approach. I am informed that this was a very positive engagement and DTCAGSM officials have provided a further written response to the Commission via the TRIS process.

A conclusion to the TRIS process shortly will enable Minister Martin to plan for the publication of the Bill in the coming weeks.

On 22 March 2023, DTCAGSM received a communication from the EU Commission which extended the original standstill period until 22 December 2023. Following this, in May 2023, I wrote to Commissioner Nicolas Schmit, who has responsibility for Jobs and Social Rights (including housing), expressing my concern in relation to the delay and the extension of the standstill period.

As part of the ongoing engagement with the Commission, my Department, DTCAGSM and Fáilte Ireland held a constructive meeting with representatives of the Commission in Brussels on 23 June last.

Commissioner Schmit responded to my letter on 26 September 2023, noting the constructive and continuing cooperation between the Irish authorities and the Commission.

On 4 December 2023, I met with heads of Cabinet to Commissioners Thierry Breton and Nicolas Schmit and reiterated Ireland’s commitment to constructive engagement on the STR.

My Department is currently developing Planning Guidelines for the Short-Term Letting sector to supplement the introduction of the STTL Bill. This guidance will provide clarity and certainty on the planning permission requirements in respect of short-term letting properties. It is intended that a draft of the updated guidelines will be published simultaneously with the publication of the STTL Bill by DTCAGSM in order that property owners will have a greater understanding of the planning requirements well in advance of the final enactment of the STTL Bill.