Exemption from Planning Legislation sought for Self-Catering operators
Note from Jacinta Doolan, Chair, Irish Self Catering Federation
Dear Colleague,
The Tourism industry has been devastated by Covid-19, and that includes our self- catering sector. We cannot ignore the major obstacle put in place by the previous Government – the requirement for planning permission for holiday homes in Rent Pressure Zones. This has not gone away and whilst the new Government is being formed the ISCF Executive Council has emailed each of the 160 newly elected TD’s in the last week, seeking an exemption. The response back from the TD’s has been swift.
The Tourism Recovery Task Force and ITIC will be putting forward their 3 year tourism recovery strategy to Government in the next couple of weeks and it is vital that our request for exemption is high on this agenda.
It is our opinion that this is an excellent time to ask our entire membership to reach out in person by phone call, email or letter to your local TD’s constituency office over the coming days. Please ask them to review again the document they received from the Irish Self Catering Federation, asking them to support our Proposed Exemption to recent planning regulations. As you are aware, this is a huge issue for rural areas particularly now during this time of recovery. It is vital that your local representative is aware of the important role our accommodation sector plays in their constituency.
I ask you to submit this request to your local TD’s office, with this link which sets out our position https://www.iscf.ie/blog/the-quiet-demise-of-self-catering-another-blow-to-the-rural-economy/ on behalf of yourself and the Irish Self Catering Federation. If they are members of FF, FG or the Green parties, please ask them to contact and send the document to their negotiation for Government team and particularly their spokesperson on Tourism. For all other political parties please ask them to contact their spokesperson on Tourism.
We would also ask you to submit this to your local Councillors who are already aware of the legislation.
For further information or if you have any queries please contact myself, Peter Downey on 086 257 0297 or Terence O’Toole Executive Council Members responsible for Planning issue (or whatever you would like to say).
With best wishes
Jacinta
