I speak on behalf of the people involved in Airbnb short-term lets. A statement from the EU stated that the Irish Government was wrong in the persecution and torment it is putting those people under. The local authorities throughout the country that are dealing with planning permissions want valid applications from people looking for permission to do short-term lets because they have been directed by the Government and others who think that 12,000 people are going to change from short-term lets to long-term lets. That will not happen. People cannot be forced to do something with their property that they do not want to do. A group of people representing short-term let operators recently stated that 80% of them have said they will not change over to long-term lets. They will not. They will not be pushed or compelled to do so. Today I seek direction for our local authorities and decision makers in planning departments. What exactly is the Government’s take on short-term lets now, following that statement from the EU ten or 12 days ago?

Nobody is being persecuted here. My understanding is that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will give guidance, if it has not already, to local authorities in this space regarding the planning considerations involved. In some parts of the country the role of Airbnbs is particularly important, particularly this year when many of our hotel rooms are not available for the tourism season. In other parts of the country where there is inappropriate short-term letting of premises that should be available for longer term letting, the State needs to act on that. In many rural parts in particular, I do not disagree with the Deputy. Many people, if required to apply for planning permission for short-term lets in the context of an Airbnb letting, simply will not do it. Local authorities will receive guidance from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this issue shortly.