Press Release – 06/01/2026 – Policy is Wrong and Unfair

PRESS RELEASE. – 06/01/2026

Policy on short-term lets is ‘wrong and unfair

The Self-catering sector faces an uncertain year ahead in 2026 with no clarity on legislation. Two Government departments are dealing with the sector, which may cause the closure of bookings for self-catering businesses by May 2026

Government’s policy on short-term lets is’ wrong and unfair’ stated Minister Michael Healy Rae in the in media on 02/01/2026.  Minister Healy Rae stated “I think it’s wrong, I think it’s unfair, I’ve explained this to Government in the strongest possible terms’” Mr. Healy-Rae wrote: “Let me be blunt: this legislation will not deliver the housing return being promised, and it will do enormous damage to rural economies in the process”

Under an FIO information obtained by the Irish Times, Minister Healy Rae urges a serious rethink of planning short-term lets legislation before irreparable damage is done to rural Ireland.

“This is not the solution to the housing crisis, it is scapegoating and I cannot support it”. He claimed: “It is increasingly clear to me that not enough thought is being given” to “the devastating consequences this legislation will have on rural communities, rural tourism, and rural jobs.”

What are Government Proposals

Government are proposing a Register for STTL Bill, which under an EU Directive must be in place by May 2026. This is being proposed by Dept of Enterprise Tourism and Employment with Fáilte Ireland managing the register.

To get on the Register Self-catering owners must state they have STR Planning for the property. This is a retrospective planning requirement for long-established micro- businesses. This planning cannot be obtained as all the country is now a Rent Pressure Zone

To ensure planning is in place the Dept of Housing must do the following

* The Dept of Housing must bring in legislation to ‘Decouple’ STR Rental from the long-term rental market.

`               * Issue a National Housing Policy Document allowing the development of replacement self-catering stock. This will also deal with tourism glamping accommodation and farm diversification development in rural areas.

Realistic in the Timeframe?

The ISCF welcomes the Register for STTL which will give clear data on the self-catering sector which provides 40% of tourism beds in Ireland, particularly rural and remote areas.

“Tourism is the largest indigenous industry in Ireland which worryingly had a 6% drop in revenue in 2024.  The Government proposals will not just reduce tourism income further in rural areas, it will kill tourism completely” stated Máire ní Mhurchu CEO ISCF.

The proposed ‘gold plating’ of the Register for STTL Bill which requires all self-catering to have STR planning by May is impossible to achieve in this timeframe, as all problems are due to planning issues and not the Register itself. There is a lack

– of planning legislation in place,

– 50% less planning staff at Co Council level that needed,

– increased demands on the planners with zoning of housing land and dealing with derelict property restoration grants.

Government has to base proposals on clear data and not data scraping. We do know that most groups schemes build with STR Planning are now in long term rental, Co Council or Government contracts, reducing the self-catering stock.

Support from Dept of Tourism Needed

 “We need support from the Dept of Tourism equal to that of hotels and other tourism sectors, not lurid statements in national papers saying most Self-catering are empty, with data based on data scraping from Online Travel Agents (OTA = Airbnb + Booking)’, said Máire Ní Mhurchú .

“The government invited the OTAs into the Irish Market in 2012, without any controls, and  is now trying to say we are all unviable, based on the OTA’s data alone. It’s a dreadful way to treat small family tourism businesses in rural Ireland. I do not know if we will have a self-catering offering next summer, when we take over the EU Presidency”.

“Self-catering owners get direct bookings from their own websites, social media, repeat bookings, or via local marketing agents. I was delighted to get an EU booking based on Google Maps this week – there are many sources of bookings, not just the OTAs. There needs a be a clear understanding of the industry, and Michael Healy Rae and other rural TD’s understand this” said Máire Ní Mhurchú

The rural economy needs to be protected, with downstream jobs in restaurants, cafes, activity providers and visitor attractions at risk. It will not provide any increase in housing with 90% of Self-catering owners stating in a recent survey that they would not rent property in the long-term market. Is the Dept of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment trying to put self-employed small business owners out of business in rural Ireland?   The Government is the biggest threat to tourism development at present.

Ends

Media Contact:

Office:- info@ ISCF.ie.      Phone: 086 – 178 5654.   Join ISCF Now

About the Irish Self-Catering Federation (ISCF)

The Irish Self-Catering Federation (ISCF) is the national representative and lobbying body for owners of self-catering properties in Ireland. Established in 1998, the ISCF advocates on behalf of its members to promote and develop the interests of the self-catering sector across the country. The ISCF has called for a Register for STR since 2017.

Recognized by Fáilte Ireland, local and central government, and key tourism stakeholders, the ISCF works to ensure that self-catering accommodation providers have a unified voice in policy discussions and industry developments. The federation represents a diverse range of property owners, from individual holiday home operators to larger agencies and groups.

One of the ISCF’s key initiatives is the operation of LetsGoSelfCatering.com, an official property listing platform that allows guests to book directly with self-catering property owners throughout Ireland. This platform aims to provide a comprehensive national listing of quality-assured self-catering accommodations.

In addition to national advocacy, the ISCF is a member of the European Holiday Homes Association (EHHA), engaging in discussions and policy development at the European level to support the self-catering industry.