Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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395. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the assessment that has been carried out on the potential impact of the Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2025 on small-scale rural tourism enterprises, particularly those operating as part of farm diversification strategies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62726/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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396. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which the Tourism Policy Framework 2025–2030 supports the development of agritourism as a tool for rural regeneration; if specific funding or policy measures are being considered to promote this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62729/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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397. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Tourism Policy Framework 2025–2030 includes provisions to support the adaptive reuse of protected structures, such as thatched cottages, for tourism purposes; if exemptions or incentives are being considered to ensure their viability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62730/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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On 15 April, Government approved the General Scheme for the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill. This Bill, when enacted, will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of regulatory controls including a register for Short Term Lettings (STL) in Ireland, to be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland from 20 May 2026, ensuring compliance with the new EU Short Term Rental Regulation, which was adopted on 11 April 2024.

The decision to introduce a register for Short term letting has been broadly welcomed by the tourism sector.

From 20 May 2026, all STL hosts offering accommodation for periods up to and including 21 nights will be obliged to register with Fáilte Ireland via a digital system and confirm their compliance with planning requirements. The registration process will take just 5 minutes to complete and will result in a unique registration number being issued for each STL unit registered. This number must be displayed when listing the STL unit on any online platforms.

Fáilte Ireland has estimated that, based on data for September 2025 which has been screen scraped from publicly available STL listings across four major booking platforms, there are c.34,680 STL properties in the State currently being advertised online and up to 65% of these properties are advertised as “entire” houses and apartments. The research points to a 25% increase from an estimated 27,720 units listed in September 2022. It is important, in such a fast-growing area, that we have oversight and data on where this growth is happening.

The new Housing policy, proposed by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne T.D., and approved by Government on 15 April is to generally preclude new planning permissions for STLs in large towns and cities. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is working to give effect to this decision. This involves a review of current Planning Acts with a view to remove references to Rent Pressure Zones in respect of short term lets and to enable local authorities have discretion to develop policies for other locations having regard to relevant local criteria to be set out in planning guidance. Minister Browne will progress any necessary legislative changes to implement the new Planning requirements. The planning guidance on short-term letting will be by way of a National Planning Statement which will be published in advance of the final enactment of the STLT Bill to provide clarity for the tourism sector.

Tourism is an important economic driver that supports one in 10 jobs in Ireland, and I am acutely aware of its importance and the concerns of the tourism industry, in particular short-term letting accommodation providers based throughout rural Ireland, including in agri-tourism. I am mindful of concerns in both rural and major tourism regions where Short Term Lettings provide much needed accommodation for visitors. These concerns are being addressed through continued engagement with all stakeholders.

I and my Department will consider the full implications for the Tourism sector as we await the publication of the National Planning Statement for short term letting by the Minister Browne.