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New laws cracking down on short-term lets pose threat to rural tourism, govt warned

In a letter to Taoiseach Simon Harris, tourism-reliant associations have raised concerns over the bill.

A NUMBER OF tourism reliant associations have raised concerns that the short-term letting bill will be detrimental to rural tourism. 

The Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill is aimed at curbing the short-term letting. The bill would introduce a register for short-term lets, which is expected to bring thousands of properties back to the market. 

Under the current draft of the bill, properties advertised for short-term letting via online platforms, such as Airbnb, would be obliged to have a valid registration number with Fáilte Ireland.

Fáilte Ireland, a state body, was established to support the development and promotion of tourism within the Republic of Ireland.

Under the bill as it currently stands, any host offering accommodation for periods of up to and including 21 nights will need to be registered. Property owners will have to register via an online portal, input their details and confirm they have planning permission, where applicable.

Before advertising properties, booking platforms will be obliged to only advertise properties with a valid Fáilte Ireland registration number.

In a letter to Taoiseach Simon Harris, representatives for the five associations urged Harris to “tread carefully and ensure that the bill and associated legislation safeguards rural tourism”.

The Government has previously said that it estimates the register will move 10,700 self-catering and short term holiday letting properties to the long term rental market, with the majority in rural Ireland. Counties along the Wild Atlantic Way, including Kerry, Galway and Cork will be most impacted by the loss of tourism accommodation, according to the associations.

The bill is not ready for Cabinet yet, but is expected to be brought before ministers soon.

It is understood the government is aware of concerns within the sectors, and these are being addressed by the Department of Housing, who have responsibility for the planning guidelines for this new measure.

The letter was signed by representatives for Vinters Federation of Ireland, Restaurant Association of Ireland, Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, Ireland’s Association for Adventure Tourism, and Irish Self-Catering Federation.

The group cited estimated figures provided to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport & Media by Fáilte Ireland.

The figures, estimated based on four of the largest online booking systems, show that Kerry will lose 1,858 short-term tourism accommodation units, Galway 1,459 and Cork 1,313. In total, counties along the Wild Atlantic Way will lose over 6,500 properties, more than 60% of the total targeted by Government, according to this data.

Concerns

The letter states that the associations welcome the introduction of a register for self-catering homes and short-term holiday lettings across the country. They stated that their concerns came from the introduction of the register “without clearly stating who can and cannot be on it”.

In the letter, the representatives said that this risks causing “untold damage” to rural Ireland by closing down self-catering homes and short-term holiday lets in rural communities and tourism-reliant towns across Ireland.

CEO of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, emphasised the importance of tourism in rural Ireland.

It is vital that holiday homes and short-term tourism rentals are protected in regional Ireland. They form a key part of the industry and bring economic activity to all parts of the Wild Atlantic Way, often where there are no hotels or guesthouses.”

The group of associations asked that there are “clear and sensible” planning guidelines brought in , and a different approach for existing operators. 

They further said that separately to hotels, self-catering homes and holiday homes are present in smaller villages and towns that would not previously have benefitted from tourism, had these forms of accommodation not been offered.

The Government has previously said that they intend for the bill to be passed before the Oireachtas summer recess.

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    Mute Vannin
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 6:51 PM

    It’s great news at last, it’s the small businesses that suffer the most and it’s about time the small companies get the help they need, it’s they afterall that form the communities and hold together society, not some multinational that will bugger off when it suits them or when the “deal” is up.

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    Mute Aasif
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 6:31 PM

    Great news more small businesses getting loans grown their companies then taking on 2 job bridge slaves to work for them.

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    Mute Vannin
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 6:54 PM

    Not a fan of jobsbridge but at least there should be a chance of a business for them to go to, which I’m sure in anyones eyes is a good thing.

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    Mute Aasif
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 7:04 PM

    I’d rather sh_te in my hands and clap for eight hours than be a slave for a profitable company big or small.

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    Mute Paul Carey
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 7:58 PM

    So enlighten us as to what benefit you personally bring to society?

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    Mute Charles McDonald
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 8:29 PM

    The benifits class is alive and well in Eire

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    Mute Sean O' Shaughnessy
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 9:08 PM

    My god what an irrelevant person

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 8:29 PM

    Ged Nash will not be elected again I believe, that is what I seem to hear from the Drogheda direction…

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    Mute Darren Norris
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 10:37 PM

    He won’t be

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    Mute John Ward
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 9:17 PM

    Ned Gash is junketing off to Sweden for St Patrick’s Day.
    I sincerely hope that there are some good and caring Irish people in America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia etc. who are well aware of what’s going on at home and will come out and demonstrate wherever these wasters show up! Tell your family members and friends abroad, who have been forced to  emigrate by the actions of this so called government, to let these miserable ministers  know how they feel at the St Patrick’s Day parades around the world.

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    Mute SCO Electrical
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    Feb 24th 2015, 12:50 AM

    Keep Calm & Crowd Fund….

    I’ve seen it all now

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    Mute Jay
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 7:56 PM

    I wish you would shit in your hands. I’ve had two jobsbridge candidates who are still employed. Attitudes like your are the reason hard working folk resent social welfare.

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    Mute Jay
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 8:39 PM

    Assif. Get a job.

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    Mute Jay
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 8:23 PM

    Assif, do you need a hug?

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    Mute Jay
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 8:00 PM

    Assif you tool.

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