Minister for Housing James Browne has warned that apartment construction has collapsed, calling for urgent action to address a "significant shortfall" in delivery.
Speaking in the Dáil, Browne said that short-term letting platforms, such as Airbnb, are exacerbating Ireland’s housing crisis, allowing companies to make "unacceptable" profits while worsening rental shortages and homelessness.
"Short-term letting is putting huge pressure on our rental sector and indeed on our homeless sector," he said.
However, he admitted that enforcement remains a challenge, as it is "quite difficult to detect and gather the necessary evidence" to take action against non-compliant operators.
Ireland Delivering Just 20% of Targeted Apartments
Browne’s comments follow an Irish Times report revealing that the government is set to deliver less than 20% of the apartments planned under a key housing scheme.
With apartment construction in crisis, opposition parties are demanding immediate legislative action.
Sinn Féin Calls for Airbnb Crackdown
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin is urging the government to amend the Planning and Development Act to crack down on illegal short-term lets.
His proposal would:
Allow planning authorities to issue spot fines to platforms like Airbnb for each day they advertise non-compliant properties.
Remove the "onerous" burden on local authorities to gather extensive legal evidence before taking action.
"This would provide a real deterrent against illegal short-term letting and free up properties for long-term renters," Ó Broin argued.
Speaking in the Dáil, Browne said that short-term letting platforms, such as Airbnb, are exacerbating Ireland’s housing crisis, allowing companies to make "unacceptable" profits while worsening rental shortages and homelessness.
"Short-term letting is putting huge pressure on our rental sector and indeed on our homeless sector," he said.
However, he admitted that enforcement remains a challenge, as it is "quite difficult to detect and gather the necessary evidence" to take action against non-compliant operators.
Ireland Delivering Just 20% of Targeted Apartments
Browne’s comments follow an Irish Times report revealing that the government is set to deliver less than 20% of the apartments planned under a key housing scheme.
With apartment construction in crisis, opposition parties are demanding immediate legislative action.
Sinn Féin Calls for Airbnb Crackdown
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin is urging the government to amend the Planning and Development Act to crack down on illegal short-term lets.
His proposal would:
Allow planning authorities to issue spot fines to platforms like Airbnb for each day they advertise non-compliant properties. Remove the "onerous" burden on local authorities to gather extensive legal evidence before taking action."This would provide a real deterrent against illegal short-term letting and free up properties for long-term renters," Ó Broin argued.
