1052. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for an update on progress on the regulation of short-term lets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61985/26]

In April of last year, I obtained Government approval for the general scheme of the Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill. Upon enactment, this Bill will put in place a comprehensive statutory framework for the regulation of the short-term letting sector, including the establishment of a national register. Drafting is at an advanced stage, and I intend to bring the Bill to Government in the near future to secure approval for its publication. The Bill will then be progressed through the Oireachtas and enacted in advance of the establishment of the register.

This register, which has been broadly welcomed by the tourism sector, will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland. The register will launch on 1 December 2026, with a legal obligation on all operators to register by 31 December 2026. The register will operate in compliance with the EU Short-Term Rental Regulation (EU) 2024/1028, which came into effect on 20 May 2026.

The use of properties for short-term letting is subject to planning regulations in Ireland.

The planning policy for Short-term letting activity has been set out by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, in a National Planning Statement.

The National Planning Statement for short-term letting ensures a clear overall policy approach, both at national level and local authority level, to enable planning authorities to determine planning applications for short-term lets across the country and sets out balanced guidelines that support the retention and return of housing stock for use in the long-term market, while enabling accommodation unsuitable for long-term use to be developed for tourism purposes in support of economic development.

The new housing policy restricts the approval of new planning permissions for short-term lets in cities and larger towns with a population of over 20,000 at the last census, based on the census town boundaries (defined by the CSO). Providers seeking to register a short-term letting property with Fáilte Ireland in these areas will be required to verify that the property complies with relevant planning requirements.

A simplified administrative version of the application process for retention specifically for short-term lets, will be introduced. There will be a presumption in favour of granting planning permission for short-term letting where a dwelling has been used continuously for this purpose for at least seven years, and no enforcement action was taken. This applies where the proposal would not create serious traffic, flooding, or pollution risks, or breach occupancy-related planning conditions.

Short-term letting accommodation providers based in towns with a population of 20,000 or less at the last census, will have two years to meet national planning compliance requirements.

The letting of a room or rooms in a person’s principal private residence is permissible on an unrestricted basis and is exempt from planning requirements.

It should be noted that homesharers are currently allowed to sub-let their entire principal private residence (house or apartment) on a short-term basis for a cumulative period of 90 days where they are temporarily absent from their home. Where the 90-day threshold is exceeded, planning permission for change of use is required.

Tourism is a vital part of the Irish economy, supporting 228,700 jobs and generating €5.4 billion in 2025. The Government’s approach positively strikes a balance between sustaining rental housing supply and supporting the vitality of rural and regional tourism and employment.

To ensure that all accommodation providers and intermediaries advertising short-term letting accommodation are aware of their registration and reporting obligations, my Department has developed a dedicated webpage providing easily accessible information for the sector, available at:

enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/the-business-environment/tourism/short-term-letting

The webpage is regularly updated to reflect the latest developments and provides guidance on registration requirements and related obligations.