Press Release – 28/5/2025 – Scapegoating of Self-Catering Sector and 2nd Home Owners

PRESS RELEASE. – 28th May 2025

Calling for a Boycott of the Self-Catering Sector and Second Homeowners Scapegoats the Individual

The Irish Self-Catering Federation [ISCF] has criticised recent comments aimed at holiday homeowners.   ISCF CEO Máire Ní Mhurchú says that the self-catering industry should not be scapegoated.

“Did the self-catering sector and Airbnb cause the housing crisis in Ireland? You would think so listening to the flurry of politicians and local county council officials in the media in the past week. Self-catering is the second largest provider of tourist accommodation in Ireland, according to Failte Ireland,” she said.

“The sector provides accommodation for families, people working in an area and many other reasons mostly in rural Ireland. Most businesses are owned by women as main or supplementary income.

“The second homes owners are being scapegoated in the media as again they are individual owners, and are not in a position of power, unlike the developers. The focus in past week has been closing down on the small and micro tourism business, those less able to protect themselves, or threaten the government,” Maire Ní Mhurchú CEO added.

She feels that the tourism sector is being unfairly singled out. “The Construction Industry Federation owns the derelict building which fell into the street last week in Dublin – fines?  I don’t think so.  They are being asked to build more houses, helped to retain planning with emergency legislaiton  and given supports, unlike the SME Tourism businesses who are being threatened,” she claimed.

“A Mayo County council official called for the boycott of self-catering and second homeowners, though councillors in the media each had different proposals to soften the blow to property owners.”

It was clarified that Mayo County Council only built five social housing units in recent years. At same time there are over 240 housing units unfinished in Mayo, which developers did not complete.  Housing Minister James Browne could not provide data on the number of social housing units built in Ireland in recent years.

“There is also no clear data on the number of STR Planning permission given by each council and how many are now used as long-term rental or permanent homes.  Unlike other countries, local authorities in Ireland—specifically county councils—do not have clear data available on short-term rental planning permissions previously granted, nor on how many properties are second homes, short-term, long-term, or permanent residences. They also lack comprehensive information on who owns and uses all the housing stock in Ireland, whether lived in permanently or used for short-term rental,” she added

“A register for Short Term Rental [STR] is being introduced for clear data from the EU. However, the Department of Housing insists all properties have STR planning, before a property can be given a registration number.We need to separate the Register for STR which focuses on the tourism economy and speperatly the need to provide social housing.  “In most areas of the country RPZ regulations mean that a business cannot get planning permission”.

“A register for STR, with an exception for those businesses who can show they have been in the Short-Term Rental industry for years will allow a register to proceed quickly,” Máire Ní Mhurchú concluded.

 End of Release

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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.