The fabled Irish welcome is at risk if there is a backlash to short-term letting, the Government was warned last year. The balancing of tourism against the housing crisis is under renewed scrutiny as the Government prepares new regulations for the short-term letting sector. And Healy-Rae’s next ask is for measures to allow existing operators to continue in the short-term letting sector. The Department of Housing is to bring forward a National Planning Statement on short-term letting before May 20th addressing these matters. But he warns that the reasonable concern and confusion of small operators could operate as a “Trojan horse” for carveouts that would benefit major investors in short-term letting.

Source: The Irish Times February 17, 2026 15:00 UTC