I have been seeking this debate for about three months at the Business Committee so I am glad the Minister is here before us. I will concentrate very much on the serious issue of short-term lets. I have very little time so I will ask a number of questions the Minister might be able to answer in his summing up. There has been major confusion, as we have seen. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are all over the place on this issue, so much so that people have been told for the last two years to sign up in May but now that can has been kicked down the road. The Social Democrats and the Labour Party have been very clear that they do not support short-term lets. That is the end of tourism in rural communities as far as they are concerned and Sinn Féin is singing from both sides of its mouth. Will the Minister confirm precisely what categories of accommodation are proposed to be exempted from the proposed planning restrictions? Will it be granny flats, converted barns and outbuildings? Is it them or is it glamping units, treehouses or accommodation attached to a principal private residence? Has there been any evidence-based assessment conducted by the Department to determine how many short-term letting properties would realistically become long-term residential tenancies if the proposed restrictions are implemented? Will that analysis be published? Will the Minister provide the most up-to-date estimate of the number of short-term letting units that will be affected in counties such as Cork, Kerry, Donegal, Mayo and Galway, broken down by local authority? Has the Department completed a tourism impact assessment quantifying the potential loss of visitor bed capacity arising from the proposed measures and if so will he bring it before the Dáil for debate? Given the repeated delays to the legislation, will the Minister outline which specific provisions remain unresolved between Departments and whether disagreements relate to housing-supply projections, tourism impacts, planning law or enforcement mechanisms? Has the Department conducted any analysis of the economic impact on rural communities where short-term letting income supports local restaurants, pubs' activities, providers and tourism businesses? On Tuesday, 28 April, the Taoiseach told this House that if someone is operating an Airbnb for seven years, he or she does not need planning permission. Does the Minister stand over that statement? My understanding is that they will be required to make an application for retention in order to be able to get on the register. Perhaps the Minister will have a word with the Taoiseach and ask him to come to the House and correct the record. On Tuesday, 28 April, the Taoiseach told this House, "The policy decision we have taken, of which the Deputy is well aware, is that it relates to towns over 20,000, so that excludes straight away all of the western seaboard and the north western seaboard, all the way along." Perhaps the Minister could give the Taoiseach a geography lesson and remind him that Tralee, Limerick city, Galway city, Sligo and even towns such as Ennis and Letterkenny are vital hubs for the surrounding, rural, seaboard tourism communities. Will the Minister bring clarity today about the criteria that planning authorities will use in assessing and making determinations on material change-of-use applications for existing and new short-term letting units in both towns and villages? These are issues that I would appreciate an answer to.

Sentiment score: 0.07