There are mixed reactions among Kerry county councillors to a proposal going before Cabinet today.
Reports suggest the government is considering a clampdown on planning permissions for Airbnb, Booking.com or other short-term lettings in towns and cities with a population of more than 10,000.
This would include towns like Tralee and Killarney.
The Minister for Housing, James Browne, along with the Minister for Tourism, Peter Burke, briefed the cabinet on plans to progress legislation governing the sector.
These new plans are believed to include the construction of a register of short-term properties, which would go live in May 2026.
Independent councillor Maura Healy-Rae expressed concerns about the proposals, stating that too much of the plan relies on hope.
She said she can’t see it working and emphasised that the government should focus on reforming the planning system instead of relying on unproven assumptions.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin councillor Paul Daly commented that the proposals must target large operators, rather than small family-run short-term lets.
He highlighted the need for change and stressed that people working in tourism in both Tralee and Killarney are struggling to find housing.
