Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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293. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on an appeal by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10257/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP), representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.

The organisation referred to by the Deputy applied for funding of €200,000 towards development of an artificial playing surface, fencing and floodlights under the 2023 CSFF round.

The maximum valid grant for this application was reduced by €100,000 as previous grants under the SCEP, consisting of €40,000 under the 2006 round and €60,000 under the 2008 round, were allocated to the same project so the maximum valid grant the club could achieve under the 2023 round of funding was €100,000, consistent with the rules of the programme.

The guide to making applications under the 2023 round set out clearly how multiple grants for the same project would be treated. The guide states that:

"There is no prohibition on applying for funding for the same project under the SCEP provided work has not already commenced at the time of application. The Department will however reduce the Maximum Valid Grant value by the grant amount(s) previously allocated to the project. The total funding provided to the particular project cannot exceed the maximum threshold as it applies to local and regional categories."

All invalid applicants and applicants who received less than 50% of amount sought were afforded a three week period to appeal the Department’s decisions and I can confirm that an appeal was submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy. As with all appeals, the application was reviewed by a different officer to the original assessor.

The appeal was rejected, noting that the amount of funding allocated to the club for the proposed artificial playing surface development cannot exceed the maximum grant available for local projects of €200,000. The club was notified in writing on 4 March of the decision.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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294. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 11 February 2025, if his Department is working together with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the simultaneous publication of the revised and re-titled Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill General Scheme and the Planning Guidelines for the Short-Term Letting sector; the current status and estimated publication date of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10283/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The General Scheme of the Registration of Short Term Tourist Letting Bill was approved by Government and published on 7 December 2022. This bill provided for the establishment of regulatory controls including the establishment of a register for all Short Term Letting (STL) properties.

Following a legally required notification of the General Scheme to the European Commission under the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535, which that requires EU Member States to notify the Commission of any draft technical regulations concerning products and information society services before they are adopted in national law, a standstill period was imposed by the Commission until December 2023 as work was underway to agree the Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation to enable a unified approach to regulation across the EU.

The EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation was adopted on 14 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026. It sets out harmonised rules on the collection and exchange of data on short-term rental services for Member States, on hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services and on online short term rental platforms that offer services to hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services.

The General Scheme approved by Government on 7 December 2022 has been revised to give effect to the provisions of the STR Regulation. The revised and retitled Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill General Scheme will require to be brought to Government for approval to enable a conclusion to the TRIS process and to proceed with drafting of the Bill. This process will fall to my colleague, the Minister Peter Burke who will take formal responsibility for tourism matters in the coming weeks after the formal transfer of the tourism function by Government Order to him.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has committed to developing Planning Guidelines to provide clarity and certainty on the planning permission requirements in respect of short-term letting properties. Officials from this Department are in regular engagement with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.