Rory Hearne: U-turn on short-term lets is cynical

The Government's roll back on its restrictions for short-term lets shows the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition has capitulated to parish pump politics, writes Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne

The figures show 34,000 properties let on a short-term basis across the country in 2025, while almost two thirds (22,000) of these were entire properties. File picture: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg

The housing system in Ireland is illogical and dysfunctional in many ways, but nowhere is that more stark than in relation to the proliferation of short-term lets. 

Thousands of complete homes are being let out on a permanent basis as short-stay accommodation on various platforms like Airbnb while young people, and increasingly middle-aged people and pensioners, cannot find a home to rent long term and are stuck in various forms of hidden homelessness.