Nearly 80 illegal short-term lets identified in Galway City as enforcement roles are put in place
Galway city’s ongoing battle to curb the dominance of short-term lets continues and enforcement remains a challenge as this topic was discussed at length at a recent Galway City Council meeting.
During the meeting, the local authority said figures show 79 formal complaints have been lodged over the illegal use of homes as short-term rentals thus far. Of those, 70 have been investigated, with each resulting in a warning letter.
Council staff said the letters state: “Unauthorised use of a property as a short-term let.” The notice invites the person or persons involved to submit observations within four weeks and outlines the relevant enforcement timeframes and provisions under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).
At the meeting, Councillor Frank Fahy referenced an external email circulated to all councillors which identified roughly 36 short-term lets around the Eyre Square and Forster Street area, based solely on the presence of lock boxes. The email noted that none of the properties had sought the proper planning permissions, Cllr Fahy said.
Cllr Fahy pressed the planning department on what process is in place to hold such operators accountable.
Director of Services Patricia Philbin acknowledged that gathering evidence against illegal Airbnbs is difficult, as letting platforms do not disclose specific addresses until after booking and payment are complete.
She said some property owners use private management companies that withhold contact details under GDPR, while many multi-unit buildings see irregular visits from landlords or maintenance workers, making it hard to identify who is responsible.
However, Ms Philbin added there remains “space for short-term lets” in Galway City, given tourism’s vital role in the local economy and culture. What is needed, she said, is a proper and controlled way to organise and identify the properties.
City council staff confirmed with the Irish Independent that an executive technician holding a full-time role has been allocated to handle short term let complaints and consequences. This role is under the planning department.
Additionally, a senior advisory is expected to take on enforcement in the planning department and this will include jurisdiction over short term lets. The city council confirmed this role was filled on October 13, 2025.
Separately, the Short-Term Letting Bill, introduced by Fáilte Ireland, will require every short-term rental nationwide to register for a unique reference number. That number must be displayed on all listings across various platforms.
The legislation came into effect in April 2025, and Fáilte Ireland is expected to begin communications about the rollout of the national registry shortly.
Social Democrats councillor Alan Curran also appealed to city executives for guidance on how best to manage the issue until those national regulations are implemented.