Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
495. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on a new short-term lettings regulation through a Fáilte Ireland registration system under Housing for All. [43315/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAction 20.4 of Housing for All commits to the development of "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”.
Officials in my Department are working in consultation with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and Fáilte Ireland on scoping out the legislative provisions that will be required to underpin such a system with a view to bringing forward the necessary legislation in the coming months.
Funding was allocated in Budget 2022 to Fáilte Ireland which has been tasked with the design and implementation of a short term lettings registration system. I have asked Fáilte Ireland to provide further details to the Deputy regarding their work on this matter. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
The Deputy will also be aware that new arrangements in relation to short-term letting, aimed at strengthening the pre-existing regulatory controls in this area, were proposed by section 3 of the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2022. When commenced by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, 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.
This legislation has been notified to the EU Commission under the requirements of the EU TRIS (Technical Regulation Information Society) Directive having regard to potential implications for internal market and information society services. This is a standard notification requirement for relevant legislative proposals by national Governments so that any proposals in this area can be examined by the EU Commission.
In the meantime, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage continues to engage with relevant stakeholder groups on the detailed operational arrangements to be applied in relation to the proposed measure which will be provided for in supplementary regulations.
