Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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345. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for an update on the planned guidelines on short-term letting, on the introduction of a short-term letting register; his views on the importance of short-term letting for rural and coastal economic development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4715/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Tourism is the most significant indigenous enterprise sector, employing c. 220,000 people, located throughout every corner of Ireland, and generating almost €9 billion in revenue from domestic trips and overseas visitors.

The growth of the Short Term Letting (STL) sector over the past 15 years is a key aspect of the tourism ecosystem but it has brought with it certain challenges, in particular the impact on the availability of long-term rental accommodation. This is a significant challenge in many EU Member States, as in Ireland. According to Fáilte Ireland there are c.32,000 STL properties advertised online in Ireland, and potentially 10,000 of those properties could be of a type and location that could be suitable for long term housing requirements.

The proposed Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of a register for Short Term Lets in Ireland and for the implementation of the new EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation which was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026.

The General Scheme of the Registration of Short Term Tourist Letting Bill was initially approved by Government and published in December 2022. Following a legally required notification of the General Scheme to the European Commission under the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) Directive a standstill period was imposed by the Commission until December 2023 as work was underway to agree the STR Regulation that would enable a unified approach to regulation across the EU. During this period the General Scheme was revised to align it to the STR Regulation.

The revised and retitled Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill General Scheme requires Government approval to enable a conclusion of the TRIS process and to proceed with drafting of the Bill.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has committed to developing Planning Guidelines for the Short-Term Letting sector to supplement the introduction of the STLT Bill. This guidance is intended to provide clarity and certainty on the planning permission requirements in respect of short-term letting properties and will be published simultaneously with the publication of the STLT Bill in order that property owners will have a greater understanding of the planning requirements well in advance of the final enactment of the STLT Bill.