The Irish Self-Catering Federation, the representative body for 6,500 self-catering properties in Ireland, has called for a grandfather clause in the new regulations affecting short term letting in Ireland.
The ISCF warns that the supplementary income of many families in the sector will be significantly impacted if the register is implemented as scheduled, emphasising the need for clear planning guidelines and a derogation for all existing short-term letting businesses.
Evidence from Scotland suggests that the introduction of a register led to the exodus of 85pc of short term rental properties from the sector.
Clare County Council also urged the government to suspend the proposed Short-Term Tourist Lettings Register until further clarity is provided.
The motion passed at a Clare County Council meeting highlights the importance of short-term lets and Airbnbs in County Clare and Ireland.
The Irish Self-Catering Federation welcomed the decision by Clare County Council to request the Government to pause the proposed roll-out of the Short-Term Tourist Lettings.
Máire ní Mhurchú, Chair of the ISCF said there is a critical shortage of available bed nights in many counties and an urgent need for clear planning guidelines around the development of glamping and other self-catering businesses to be established.
“We are calling on Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin and Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien to sit down with the ISCF to ensure no self-catering businesses, many of which are small family rural tourism businesses, are lost when the Register is introduced later this year,” she added. “Issues with planning need to be sorted first, with a derogation for all existing STL businesses. Clear guidelines for planners and owners are essential before the Register is introduced. A recent report published by Fáilte Ireland highlighted that the Clare tourism economy is being negatively impacted by the fact that 33pc of tourism beds in the County are tied into contracts with the Department of Integration,” she explained. “Yet, the Government is moving ahead with its plans for the Register, which could lead to forced exit from the market of some short-term accommodation providers. Short-term accommodation, such as glamping and holiday homes, is a niche but significant generator of income for rural communities. With an average of 6 people per house spending a minimum of €250 in the local economy, the economic value of 100 self-catering short-term tourist properties in Clare over a 32-week tourism season would be €4.8m. This would result in significant, additional pressures being placed on local cafes, shops, restaurants, craft shops, galleries and other tourist-focused services.”
