Tipperary farmer warns new rental laws could kill rural tourism and heritage

Members of the Irish Self Catering Federation gathered outside Dáil Éireann on Monday to warn that Government’s proposed short-term rental legislation could sound the death knell for thousands of family-run businesses that have provided tourism accommodation in rural Ireland for decades.

The demonstration followed a sector-wide briefing at Buswells Hotel, where ISCF set out its concerns over plans to require planning permission for all short-term rentals.

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Unless amended, the ISCF warns the law could devastate rural economies, force many legitimate tourism operators to close, and risk up to €3.5 billion in lost revenue along the Wild Atlantic Way alone.

Independent research by leading economist Jim Power highlights the scale of what is at risk.

In his 2025 report commissioned by the ISCF, he notes that the self-catering sector contributes €3.5 billion annually to Irish tourism, while visitors staying in self-catering properties generate 11.5 million bed nights per year, spending heavily in local communities.

Furthermore, the sector supports 22,000 jobs directly and indirectly, often in regions with limited alternative employment.

ISCF members emphasised that these businesses are not speculative landlords but long-standing, family-owned holiday operators who have sustained rural tourism for generations.

One such operator is Tipperary farmer Tomás O’Keeffe, who renovated an old thatched cottage on his land as part of farm diversification.

“Generational renewal is one of the biggest challenges facing farming communities, as is rural isolation. Having a self-catering property on the farm brings people to us, and guests get to experience real rural Ireland. We even offer farm tours as part of the stay.

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“I now hope to renovate another thatched house on the farm to add to our offering. These cottages existed long before the foundation of the state, and I don’t believe planning permission should be required to use them for tourist accommodation, which will ensure the survival of these buildings for coming generations. This heritage belongs in rural Ireland for visitors to enjoy. The government must recognise that sustainable farm diversification through tourism keeps rural communities alive.”

The Federation is specifically calling for:
-An increase in the population threshold for planning restrictions from 10,000 to 30,000;
-A national register for short-term rentals to ensure transparency and accountability;
-Targeted supports for family-run accommodation providers who underpin rural economies and communities.

Máire Ní Mhurchú, CEO of the ISCF, said: “This legislation risks being a blunt instrument that punishes rural tourism for a housing crisis it did not create. A one-size-fits-all approach is a death knell for family-run self-catering businesses, and by extension, for the shops, pubs, and small enterprises that rely on tourism spend. These are livelihoods, these are communities, and they deserve fair treatment. We are urging Government to work with us on exemptions that strike the right balance between protecting housing and sustaining rural Ireland.”

The ISCF emphasised that these measures would strike the right balance between protecting housing supply and ensuring the survival of Ireland’s self-catering sector, which underpins jobs, community vitality, and the visitor experience across the country.