Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2026 introduced to Dáil to establish mandatory national register
Friday 6 November 2026
The Dáil has commenced Second Stage debate on the Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2026, which establishes a national registration system for stays up to 21 nights.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke has introduced the Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2026 to the Dáil, proposing a mandatory national register for short-term accommodation.
Moving the Bill at Second Stage, the Minister stated that the legislation establishes a regulatory framework aligned with the EU Short-Term Rental Regulation, which took effect on 20 May. Under the proposed measures, Fáilte Ireland will act as the competent authority responsible for operating the national register and running a single digital entry point for data collection and sharing.
The framework will apply to short-term accommodation lettings involving stays of up to 21 consecutive nights. Property hosts will be required to register online with Fáilte Ireland to obtain a unique registration number for each unit, subject to a nominal €25 registration fee set by regulations. Hosts must display this registration number on all advertisements and property listings.
Online booking platforms will face statutory obligations to display host registration numbers, carry out random verification checks on listings, submit rental activity data to Fáilte Ireland, and remove or disable listings where required by law.
Citing the scale of the market, the Minister noted that Fáilte Ireland monthly estimates identified approximately 31,770 short-term letting properties advertised across two major booking platforms as of September 2026. The legislation is intended to give authorities reliable data to assist decision-making across tourism and regional development, while supporting broader policy to prioritise long-term residential housing in areas under housing pressure.
Enforcement powers under the Bill include the appointment of registration officers and authorised officers with authority to carry out inspections and investigations. Penalties will include fixed payment notices and summary offences for non-compliant hosts, alongside an administrative sanctions regime and an independent adjudication panel for platform contraventions.