Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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160. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of registered accommodation providers under Fáilte Ireland in Dublin Bay north; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66496/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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This Government recognises the central importance of the tourism sector to Ireland's economy and communities, and is acutely aware of the importance of local tourism accommodation as a resource for businesses and communities throughout the country.

The overall position regarding the available data on accommodation for tourism purposes is complex and multi-layered. Fáilte Ireland maintains tourist accommodation registers as provided for under the Tourist Traffic Acts. Under the Acts, it is a legal requirement that any premises using a prescribed term such as ‘Hotel’ or ‘Guest House’ must be registered with Fáilte Ireland and meet the criteria set out in the relevant regulation.

Fáilte Ireland, through the National Quality Assurance Framework (NQAF), is responsible for assessing and approving tourism accommodation providers to ensure they meet these criteria as defined. Each premises undergoes an assessment at the application stage, followed by an annual renewal assessment.

In terms of ensuring adequate future supply of tourism accommodation, Fáilte Ireland has developed a capacity and pipeline monitor to track movement in tourism accommodation capacity. This movement includes any changes in current capacity and the tracking of the pipeline of tourist accommodation nationally, focusing on planning, construction commencement and opening phases of development. The monitor allows Fáilte Ireland to better pinpoint challenges that exist in terms of the development of tourism accommodation and to measure the impact arising.

In addition, the statutory register of all Short-Term Letting (STL) accommodation in the State will, when implemented by Fáilte Ireland in May 2026, provide a full picture of the stock of tourist accommodation in that segment of the sector.

Reliable and complete data on tourism accommodation is vital for best informing the Governments tourism policy. Scoping of all available data and any data gaps arising is being actively pursued by the relevant officials in my Department. A more complete overview, based on hard data, will also enhance Fáilte Ireland’s ability to promote wider tourism investment.

The combined insights gleaned from the accommodation capacity and pipeline monitor; the existing tourism accommodation registers; and the forthcoming STL register will help shape and inform Ireland’s long term accommodation development plans to meet changing consumer demands and trends.

There are six accommodation providers with properties within the Dublin Bay North constituency boundary currently registered with Fáilte Ireland under the Tourist Traffic Acts, as detailed in the table below.