More Nuanced Approach to STR Legislation Bill Needed
Eoghan O’Mara Walsh warned that the self-catering accommodation sector could “fall off a cliff” in May if planning issues are not resolved. He called for a working group to address these challenges (Irish Times). “On May 19th, thousands of properties will be available to rent, and by May 20th, this could collapse if action is not taken,” he said.
Oireachtas Committee 21 January 2026
Last week 21/1/2026 at the Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Committee, ITIC CEO Eoghan O’Mara Walsh and Vice-Chair Anne O’Donoghue participated in discussions on the “Future of Tourism.”
Self-catering accommodation has long been a staple of Ireland’s tourism product, particularly in rural areas. ITIC has commissioned an economic impact report on the sector, which will be released in the coming weeks.
Future of Tourism
According to Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, the four largest threats to tourism currently are:
• The airport cap at Dublin Airport
• The hotel development pipeline over the next few years
• The transition of car rental fleets to EV-only by 2030, per EU proposals
• The introduction of the Register for Short-Term Rentals (STR), which poses a significant threat to the rural tourism economy
When asked by Senator Aubrey McCarthy about the biggest threat to tourism this year, Anne O’Donoghue highlighted the Register for STR Bill as the most pressing issue. “The summer season is critical for rural Ireland. The knock-on effect of uncertainty is that businesses are hesitating to open tourism-related operations, such as restaurants and cafés. A more nuanced approach is needed,” she stated.
Register for STR Bill
While the Register for STR Bill is required under an EU directive, public representatives at both Dáil and council levels have expressed concern over the lack of clarity regarding planning requirements for existing self-catering tourism businesses.
West Cork Councillor Caroline Cronin has called for tourist areas to be exempt from short-term letting planning rules, highlighting the potential negative impact on rural tourism.
ISCF Comments
The ISCF welcomes the introduction of the Register for Short-Term Rentals but emphasizes the need for clarity and meaningful consultation regarding planning requirements for both long- established and new self-catering businesses.
“Tourism is a vital component of the rural Irish economy, contributing €9 billion annually, with 29 cents of every euro returned to state income. To ensure the sustainability of this sector, we call for the establishment of a steering group to develop clear guidelines for self-catering operators,” said Maire Ní Mhurchú.
The self-catering sector did not cuase the housing crisis and should not be scapegated. Data from the the Analysis of Self-Catering Sector report shows the effect of using data scraping to develop polic. The ISCF welcomed the ESRI report in April 2025 which was the first economic report on the sector.
‘Some online travel agents and booking sites are not taking bookings from May onwards and this will have a serious effect on the marketing of the sector’ said Máire ní Mhurchú CEO of the ISCF.
Ends
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