Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
634. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of planning applications in the cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick, respectively, from June 2015 to June 2022, inclusive, to the respective local authorities' planning department, requesting the change of use of a property in order that it can be used for short-term letting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39919/22]
View answer635. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of planning applications approved in the cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick, respectively, from June 2015 to June 2022, inclusive, to the respective local authorities' planning department, requesting the change of use of a property in order that it can be used for short-term letting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39920/22]
View answer636. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of planning applications declined in the cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick, respectively, from June 2015 to June 2022, inclusive, to the respective local authorities' planning department, requesting the change of use of a property in order that it can be used for short-term letting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39921/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 634 to 636, inclusive, together.
Legislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector through the planning code, in areas designated as “rent pressure zones” (RPZs), were introduced under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 which came into effect on 1 July 2019.
The information requested in relation to the number of planning applications for change of use to short term letting is provided in the table below. My Department does not hold information in this regard prior to the introduction of the 2019 regulations.
|
No of STL Change of Use Planning Applications received - Total |
No of STL Change of Use Planning Permission Granted |
No of STL Change of Use Planning Applications Refused |
||||||||||
|
Planning Authority |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Q1 2022 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Q1 2022 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Q1 2022 |
|
Cork City |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Dublin City |
17 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Galway City |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
23 |
10 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
Further to a review of the current provisions as operated by local authorities under the planning code, the Government has already agreed a specific action in Housing for All (action 20.4) to “develop new regulatory controls requiring short-term and holiday lets to register with Fáilte Ireland with a view to ensuring that houses are used to best effect in areas of housing need”.
I have engaged with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media to progress this action and ongoing collaboration on the legislation and related matters is taking place between officials of our respective Departments and Fáilte Ireland.
Funding was allocated in Budget 2022 to Fáilte Ireland which has been tasked with the design and implementation of a new short-term lettings registration system. The agency is currently recruiting staff to work on this project, with the project lead in place since March 2022. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is presently scoping out the legislative provisions that will be required to robustly underpin the new registration system with a view to these provisions being enacted in 2022. The online registration system is being developed, as are the necessary processes and procedures to ensure, once launched, that the register is comprehensive, accurate and up to date.
In addition new arrangements in relation to short-term letting, aimed at strengthening the pre-existing regulatory controls in this area were proposed by the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2022. When commenced the new arrangements will provide that, for a period of six months, non-principal private residences in Rent Pressure Zones shall not be advertised or accept bookings on online platforms or other media for short term letting purposes without the necessary planning permission being in place in respect of the property concerned or the property concerned being otherwise exempted. Pending the establishment and commencement of operations of the new short-term letting registration system to be operated by Fáilte Ireland, the six month period referred to may be extended for further 6 month periods subject to positive resolutions by both Houses of the Oireachtas.
