Irish Self Catering Federation

05/09/2026

The EU Commission under Ursula von der Leyen is preparing to help city’s restrict STR, According to Euratciv the Affordable Housing Act plans to establish common rules for cities and Governments who want to intervene in holiday let.
Will this affect your business?
Need to be a member of the ISCF and attend the Conference on 23/11/2026

04/09/2026

What are wild retreats and where will they come within the new legislation for STR? There is a demand for these back-to-nature stays- so are they botháns, seomra beoga or mídhleathach i b’pleanáil?

Wild stays in Ireland are becoming increasingly popular as guests reconnect with nature and ditch their phones

04/09/2026

Want to know what the Government proposals for Self-catering sector are? Are they achievable by December 2026. Are there any Exemptions for existing holiday homes, heritage houses? Vice Chair ISCF Noelle Casey discuss with Anton Savage on Newstalk Breakfast.

The new short-term rental register is due to be introduced this December. The Irish Self-Catering Federation has said that the Government must introduce a new National Planning Statement for short-term rentals to allow self-catering businesses to develop across Ireland.  Speaking to Anton with more...

03/09/2026

The Register for STR is being introduced across the EU.
What stage is it at now and will most EU Contries have a Register by the end of 2026?
Ireland is the only EU country linking a Register to a retrospective planning requirement. Will it work?
What do you think?
Please share with your local politicians.
Report:- https://iscf.ie/register-for-str-across-eu-ireland/

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02/09/2026

Eurostat data on tourism beds bookings show 1/7% increase in holiday lets bookings. But at country level Ireland has 14.6% increase, Malta 9.9% and Slovakia 5.9%. Part of Irelands increase is due to a very weak Q1 + 2 in 2025 (-3.5%). But the following Questions need answers:-
* All bookings on platforms are included, including those for longer stay over the winter months from older US citizens?
* Is this because the Register for STR was not in place before the changes to long-term rentals?
* Where will all these extra guest stay once recent entrants are banned by the Register for STR when imposed?
We need answers from Government not blaming SME STR for these statistics.

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20260901-1

30/08/2026

At Wild Nephin Park in Mayo is the ‘Upper House’ Bothy, a restored cottage from 1947, for walkers in the park for overnight shelter. Ministers Dara Calleary and Christopher o Sullivan at the door of the bothy.
Should SME businesses be given permission to develop bothy’s along walking routes and greenways?
How will such overnight accommoddation be added to the Register for Short-Term Rental?

29/08/2026

Planning for vacant commercial property needs to be turned into Short-term rentals in all towns and villages. Kilkenny is the only planning authority allowing this at present.
Commercial vacancy rates in Ireland at 14.5% with areas west of the Shannon highest level- Donegal has 34.5% empty commercial buildings, Galway 18.6%, Boyle 30.1%, Clare 34.9%. What do you think?

A new report shows that the commercial vacancy rate experienced an annual decline in the second quarter of this year - the first such decline since reporting on the issue began in 2013.

27/08/2026

Data on Migration from CSO puts Irelands population at 5.5 mil people in April 2026. The census next year will give clear exact data.

27/08/2026

Cad a tharlóidh do Féin-Loistín i mbliana le rialacha nua an Rialtas? An bfhuil go leor ama chun an Clarucháin agus ceadunás pleanála a eagrú roimh deireadh na bliana. Máire ní Mhurchú CEO ISCF ag caint ar nuacht Radio na Gaeltachta le Joe ó Muirecheartaigh.

26/08/2026

Tourism is a major regional employer and the largest indigenous industry in Ireland. The majority of the workforce are female with high no of female management staff. In the self-catering sector females own most properties and are also main employee group in rural Ireland.