(JJ Hurley)
Kinsale’s looks set to be facing a crisis as the lack of reasonable priced accommodation has evaporated and the price of new property continues to soar.
The statistics on the property website Daft.ie make for bleak reading on the 17/11, with only 14 premises available to rent and 46 properties for sale, only three of which are under the €400,000 bracket.
It's certainly a cause for concern for those seeking employment in the local hospitality sector, with the CSO suggesting their average income in 2021 was 24k per annum.
For the owners of the Turkish Barbers, based at The Glen, remarked, ‘Accommodation is a big problem, too expensive, and nothing available to keep people employed in Kinsale.’
While during the previous Dail period, a substantial development of 40 new homes was opened by Cluid Housing to provide affordable and social housing, but there seems to be no plans for any additional new developments in the town.
The lack of affordable homes has forced a substantial cohort to take up residence in boats on the Long Quay as well as similar accommodation on the Pier Road.
Of those trying to get on the renters market, a finger of desperation is being point at the failure of the implementation of pressure rent zones for the town and the prickly topic of Airbnb as not helping the situation.
However, a quick ramble through the Airbnb website suggests there are not too many properties on offer during this time of year.
The question for the industry remains regulation and on his visit to the town during the local election Taoiseach Simon Harris had promised legislation would be introduced to address the issue, once support from the opposition parties could be secured.
In the latest update on the introduction of legislation from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media a spokesperson said, ‘ Under Housing for All, the Government committed to bringing forward revised regulatory controls in the Short Term Letting sector. The proposed Short-Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of a register for Short Term Lets (STLs) in Ireland and for the implementation of the new EU Short Term Rental Regulation.
It is intended to bring the STLT General Scheme to Government as soon as possible, and once approved by Government it will be then be sent to the EU Commission as part of the TRIS process. This will then bring a conclusion to the TRIS process.
In parallel to the drafting of the STLT Bill, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) has committed to providing updated planning guidance to local authorities in tandem with the establishment of the STL register and associated regulations.
These important guidelines will aim to provide the necessary clarity on the planning permission for properties operating in this area in both rent pressure zones and areas outside rent pressure zones and will provide local authorities with an appropriate framework within which they can make informed and balanced decisions in relation to Short-Term Letting planning applications having regard to the needs of the local area concerned.’
With a new government set to take office in the coming weeks and with no definite timeline available, it looks like the situation will not be resolved anytime soon.
A comment was sought from Cork County Council on the issue of Airb&b.
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