Short-term lets must be registered by Wednesday, May 20, but Galway West by-election candidate Cillian Keane says the Government is right to delay this deadline.
The Fianna Fáil hopeful looking to fill the seat vacated by Catherine Connolly says issues around the proposed short-term letting register need to be fully resolved before any new system is enforced, warning of unintended consequences for tourism and rural economies.
The Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill was brought forward by Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke last year, but it has still not passed all stages of the Oireachtas, despite a deadline set for two weeks’ time.
Recent data from Threshold conservatively suggests there are 1,105 short-term lets across Galway, compared to just 116 homes available for long-term rent.
Keane said he supports efforts to increase housing supply, but added that policies must recognise that many short-term lets in rural Galway are integral to the tourism economy, and may not automatically transfer into the long-term rental market.
“We need to get the balance right. There are genuine issues that need to be ironed out before this is implemented, and I welcome the fact Government is taking time to work through those concerns.
“In parts of rural Galway, short-term lets are not simply investment properties sitting idle. They support family incomes, sustain tourism, and in some areas provide accommodation where there is little or no hotel capacity.”
The 25-year-old county councillor lives with his parents in Maree, Oranmore, and, speaking to the Advertiser, says he knows “first-hand” the housing difficulties facing young people. He is concerned however that a “blanket approach” could have adverse effects in areas which rely on visitor income.
“There are parts of Galway where Airbnb accommodation is effectively the main tourism bedstock, and it brings millions of euros into the local economy.
“If you undermine that without viable alternatives, you risk harming local businesses, hospitality jobs and rural communities that depend on tourism.”
He said many properties currently used for short-term letting are not realistically suited to the long-term rental market, and that new policy should reflect that reality.
“A large number of Airbnb properties in Galway are private holiday homes offering some seasonal lettings, some are on farms, some are ancillary accommodation that simply would not come into the residential market.
“We need an evidence-based approach that recognises that.”
Keane recognises Ireland has obligations under EU law around regulation of short-term lets, but he wants its implementation to minimise unintended damage.
“The objective should be to increase housing supply while minimising disruption to tourism and local economies. We should not create a new problem while trying to solve another one.”
He also warned against creating additional bureaucracy for planning authorities, and property owners.
“We are all talking about cutting red tape in planning. We have to be careful not to create another layer of bureaucracy that ties up planners and catches ordinary people in paperwork.”
Galway County Council currently has two planning applications for accommodation to be used for short lets, while Galway city council has none so far submitted this year. Threshold reports that if it counts single listings, the number of short-lets across Galway exceeds 20,000.
There are currently around 4,500 people on the housing list in Galway city, and over 3,000 in County Galway.
Keane said he would continue to argue for a balanced approach that protects both housing objectives and rural tourism.
“Good policy gets the balance right. That is what is needed here.”
