Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 April 2025
641. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will request the Property Services Regulatory Authority investigate the practice of letting agents without PSR licences advertising short-term lets and if this is permitted under existing regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17385/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) is the statutory regulatory body tasked with responsibility for licensing and regulating property services providers. The Property Services Regulatory Authority comes under the aegis of the Department of Justice.
The EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026. This Regulation lays down harmonised rules on the collection and exchange of data on short-term rental services for member states, hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services, and online platforms that offer services to hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services within the EU.
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) has drafted the Short-Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill General Scheme in full alignment with the STR Regulation. The introduction of the STLT Bill will provide a more effective legal and administrative basis to regulate short term lettings. The proposed STLT Bill will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of a register for Short Term Lets in Ireland and for the implementation of the new EU STR.
In parallel, my Department will develop Planning Guidelines for the Short-Term Letting sector to supplement and support the introduction of the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill, based on an approach that clarifies the balance of need between housing and short-term tourist accommodation, which may be considered on a geographic basis, and will provide clarity in respect of planning requirements regarding short-term letting properties.
