ISCF urges “urgent” consultation on Ireland’s national STR register

Ireland: The Irish Self-Catering Federation (ISCF) is calling on the Irish Government to begin urgent consultation with the short-term rental sector ahead of plans to introduce a national register for all STR properties by April 2026.

The ISCF, which represents 6,000 self-catering units across Ireland, said planning issues must be resolved before the register – to be managed by Fáilte Ireland – is implemented. The move follows an EU Commission directive requiring all STRs to be registered by April next year.

ISCF CEO Máire Ní Mhurchú said the process must take account of existing operators and protect businesses across self-catering, glamping, guesthouse and B&B sectors.

“The existing short-term rental industry must be protected,” said Ní Mhurchú. “Planning for these operators must be sorted first and with a derogation.”

The ISCF is lobbying for a planning derogation for property owners who have been in business for up to four years, arguing that many of the current proposals are unsuitable for rural Ireland.

“As it currently stands, the EU legislation is designed for cities like Paris, where a cap on the number of units is required,” said Ní Mhurchú. “The present proposals would place similar caps on small towns and villages in rural Ireland with populations under 10,000 – which is simply not appropriate.”

She added: “Cities like Dublin, Cork and possibly Limerick are the only places in Ireland that may require a cap.”

With the tourism sector facing what the ISCF describes as a “poor season”, the federation said any new regulation must not be financially burdensome for operators.

While Eurostat data shows a 19 per cent increase in STR bookings across the EU in 2024, Ireland has not seen a similar rebound, which the ISCF attributes to ongoing legislative uncertainty.

“We welcome the register – but we do not want a self-catering black market to spawn,” said Ní Mhurchú. “Our message is simple: our industry must be urgently consulted with on the implications of the register and on planning issues. Too many livelihoods are at stake.”

Peter Warburton, co-owner of Cottages for Couples in Skibbereen and ISCF member, described the government’s Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill as “flawed”.

“The bill assumes property owners can easily switch to long-term rentals, overlooking the unique nature of our accommodations, such as treehouses, which aren’t suitable for long-term leasing,” said Warburton.

“Forcing closures would deprive Skibbereen of approximately €2 million in tourism revenue and impact 15 local jobs,” he added.

The ISCF is a non-profit national organisation representing owners of self-catering properties in Ireland, providing a quality assurance system for all members. ISCF member operators have over 6000 units of self-catering accommodation across Ireland.