- Policy on short-term lets called wrong and unfair by Minister Healy-Rae.
- Register requires planning permission by May 2026, impossible in rent pressure zones.
- Need to decouple rentals and issue national policy for new stock.
- Sector provides 40pc tourism beds, risks rural economy and jobs.
- Unrealistic timeframe due to planning issues, calls for better data and support.
The Irish Self-Catering Federation has revealed concerns over government policy on short-term lets, described as wrong and unfair by Minister Michael Healy-Rae. The legislation requires a register by May 2026 under an EU directive, managed by Fáilte Ireland. Owners must prove planning permission for short-term rentals, a retrospective demand in rent pressure zones.
To enable planning, the Department of Housing must decouple short-term from long-term rentals and issue a national policy for replacement stock, including glamping and farm diversification. The federation welcomes the register for data on the sector providing 40pc of tourism beds, especially in rural areas. Tourism revenue dropped 6pc in 2024.
The timeframe for planning is unrealistic due to lacking legislation, reduced council staff, and other demands. Proposals rely on inaccurate data scraping. The federation calls for equal support from the Department of Tourism, noting direct bookings beyond online agents.
Minister Michael Healy-Rae shared “I think it’s wrong, I think it’s unfair, I’ve explained this to Government in the strongest possible terms. Let me be blunt: this legislation will not deliver the housing return being promised, and it will do enormous damage to rural economies in the process. This is not the solution to the housing crisis, it is scapegoating and I cannot support it.”
“It is increasingly clear to me that not enough thought is being given to the devastating consequences this legislation will have on rural communities, rural tourism, and rural jobs.”
Máire ní Mhurchu shared “Tourism is the largest indigenous industry in Ireland which worryingly had a 6% drop in revenue in 2024. The Government proposals will not just reduce tourism income further in rural areas, it will kill tourism completely.”
“We need support from the Dept of Tourism equal to that of hotels and other tourism sectors, not lurid statements in national papers saying most Self-catering are empty, with data based on data scraping from Online Travel Agents (OTA = Airbnb + Booking).”
“The government invited the OTAs into the Irish Market in 2012, without any controls, and is now trying to say we are all unviable, based on the OTA’s data alone. It’s a dreadful way to treat small family tourism businesses in rural Ireland. I do not know if we will have a self-catering offering next summer, when we take over the EU Presidency.”
“Self-catering owners get direct bookings from their own websites, social media, repeat bookings, or via local marketing agents. I was delighted to get an EU booking based on Google Maps this week – there are many sources of bookings, not just the OTAs. There needs a be a clear understanding of the industry, and Michael Healy Rae and other rural TD’s understand this.”
