Planned ban on Airbnb-type lettings in rural communities prompts concern

The Irish Department of Public Expenditure has raised concerns over the impact of new short-term letting rules on rural communities.

The new rules, were due to go to Cabinet this wee, suggest a prohibition of planning permissions for Airbnb-style lettings in towns of 10,000 people or more, and the creation of a register for the properties

However, while agreeing that the demand for private rental tends to be higher in more urban areas, officials have expressed concerns about the impact on tourism in many rural regions, which is vital for jobs and economic growth, and also point out that some tourism hotspots such as Killarney, Co Kerry and Tramore, Co Waterford, have populations of more than 10,000.

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