Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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456. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he can provide data on the number of short term lets which have been granted planning permission in the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; and the number that applied and were refused planning, per local authority area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15055/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Local planning authorities are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the short-term letting planning arrangements and submit quarterly data returns to my Department. The information requested in relation to the number of planning applications received and planning permissions granted and refused for change of use to short term letting has been taken from these returns and is provided in the table attached. The figures for 2024 do not include the Returns for December 2024 which will be available in due course.

Further information being processed for publication.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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457. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures planned to regulate short term lets in areas outside of rent pressure zones, given that short term lets are not required to get planning permission in such areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15056/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026. This Regulation lays down harmonised rules on the collection and exchange of data on short-term rental services for member states, hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services, and online platforms that offer services to hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services within the EU.

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) has drafted the Short-Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill General Scheme in full alignment with the STR Regulation. The introduction of the STLT Bill will provide a more effective legal and administrative basis to regulate short term lettings. The proposed 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 STR.

In parallel, my Department is currently considering options which will help inform a clear direction on what the policy approach to regulating short-term lets will be. It is important that there is a clear view, both at national level and local authority level, as to the overall policy approach to determining planning applications for Short Term Lets. This considers numerous complex factors, such as existing planning legislation, the long-term housing need in the local authority area, the location of the proposed Short-Term Let and balancing housing need with the potential impact on tourism and economic development.

My Department will develop Planning Guidelines for the Short-Term Letting sector to supplement and support the introduction of the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill, based on an approach that clarifies the balance of need between housing and short-term tourist accommodation, which may be considered on a geographic basis, and will provide clarity in respect of planning requirements regarding short-term letting properties.