Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 June 2017
306. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the working group set up by him to report in the second quarter of 2017 on the issue of short-term tourism related lettings has made its report; if so, if he will publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30330/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAction 18 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector requires the establishment of a Working Group to provide clarity in relation to the appropriate regulatory approach, from a planning perspective, for short-term tourism-related lettings to address unintended consequences of short-term lettings, including withdrawal of supply from the rental market.
The Working Group met on 14 June and had a constructive discussion on the subject of appropriate guidance to planning authorities in relation to short-term lettings for tourism purposes. The Group consists of representatives from my Department, the Departments of Finance and of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, An Bord Pleanála, Fáilte Ireland, the Residential Tenancies Board, and Dublin City Council.
The anticipated output of the Group will be a report on the appropriate regulatory approach for short-term tourism-related lettings and the identification of the necessary amendments to legislation required to effect such regulation. It is expected that the report will be finalised in Q3 2017.
In addition to establishing a working group to consider short-term lettings, my Department has been engaging with AirBnB over the last number of months to explore the possibilities for a collaborative agreement, under which practical steps may be put in place to ensure that, where there are risks that short-term letting may result in the removal of significant numbers of properties from the rental market, planning requirements are respected.
