Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1013. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to publish the draft planning guidelines on short-term letting; and to confirm that he will consult with the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, before finalising the guidelines. [58132/25]

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 Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) 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. This Bill when enacted will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of a register for all Short Term Lettings in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland from 20 May 2026.

Following the approval received from Government on the 15 April to generally preclude new planning permissions for STLs in cities and towns with a Census population in excess of 10,000 people, at the most recent Census of Population, my Department is working to give effect to this decision. This involves a review of the current Planning Acts with a view to remove references to Rent Pressure Zones in respect of short-term lets.

To ensure 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, the Department is currently developing a National Planning Statement (NPS) for the short term letting sector to supplement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill. It will consider a variety of 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.

Under the Planning and Development Act 2024, NPS have been introduced to replace section 28 Ministerial Guidelines issued under the Planning and Development Act 2000. These Statements will be prepared by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and subject to approval by Government. In certain circumstances, and in addition to seeking Government approval, the Minister may decide to order a wider consultation of NPSs to enhance and ensure greater clarity to planning authorities.