Dáil Debates Reporting Requirement for Short-Term Letting Planning Grandfather Clause

Opposition TDs have called for formal reporting on how many holiday lets utilise a proposed seven-year planning exemption under new short-term rental laws.

During Committee Stage debate on the Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2026, Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh moved an amendment directing the Minister to lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas within six months of the Act's passing. The report would detail the number of short-term letting properties registered with Fáilte Ireland that have availed of the seven-year grandfather clause set out in section 5.1 of the Planning Policy Statement on Short-Term Lettings.

Deputy Conway-Walsh stated the amendment seeks transparency over how many properties benefit from the exemption, whether the clause weakens planning restrictions, and the resulting impact on residential housing supply. She noted the data would help distinguish between family-run accommodation and commercial operators.

Contributing to the debate, Deputy Eoin Ó Broin highlighted concerns regarding the planning policy statement agreed by Cabinet. Citing an Indecon report prepared for the Housing Agency, Deputy Ó Broin noted that analysis of Airbnb listings indicated approximately 70% of operators trading on the platform in the State have been active for seven years or more. He argued that monitoring is required to establish whether the clause operates as a blanket presumption in favour of planning permission.