UNCERTAINTY over rules for short-term lets has seen three accommodation providers in Courtmacsherry close their doors.

One councillor has warned that ‘tourism will shut down in West Cork’ unless the government does a U-turn on planning requirements for the sector.

Bernadette Bos, who ran ‘Capaill Mara’ glamping site in Courtmacsherry with her husband Paul, said she is gutted to have made the decision to close.

‘It’s just sounds like it’s nigh on impossible because there’s no way I’m going to go through the rigmarole in applying for planning for one single bell tent,’ said Bernadette.

‘It was doing really well and we’ve had people from all over the world. Visitors would also see it as a starting point for the Wild Atlantic Way. We will really miss it.’

Bernadette thinks the rule requiring owners to register with Fáilte Ireland by May 20th – which they can only do if they tick a box confirming they have planning permission - is ‘insane’.

‘It’s not like we had a cottage, it’s only a bell tent that is only available for the summer months and we made so little money out of it anyway that it wouldn’t be a viable option at all to go seeking planning permission,’ she said.

Bernadette hinted that she may re-think her decision to close if the Government changes that planning requirement.

Another former Airbnb owner in Courtmacsherry, who closed her business last September, said those in the short-term lets sector are being ‘completely and utterly stonewalled’ by the Government at every level.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said she loved running her business and promoting West Cork to her guests as did a friend of hers who has also closed her business.

‘People used to stay with us and spend their money in the bars and restaurants in the village and now that footfall is gone,’ she said.

She too would also reconsider going back into business if more clarity was given to operators.

Deputy Michael Collins (Ind Ire) raised the concerns of owners in the Dáil and said people are terrified that these new rules will wipe out short-term lets and Airbnbs - and with it the tourism that keeps small towns and villages across West Cork alive.

‘They are all over the place and they have no joined up thinking in relation to the planning aspect of this Bill. These short-term lets were built for tourism only and keeps rural Ireland going.’

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the legislation is ‘not requesting’ anyone to have planning permission.

‘From the get go if you move from a residential activity to a commercial activity you need planning permission and that’s existing legislation. The idea is that you can register and that overtime you can regularise your position,’ he said.

Sarah Cronin from Irish Host Community, said they are operating in a ‘vacuum’ as there is no guidance, framework or clear exemptions.

‘Nobody has a problem registering their business but the planning issue is causing huge problems for our members,’ she said.

‘People are finally waking up to the fact that this is actually happening and the wider impacts are not being taken into consideration. We are being blamed for the housing crisis and the short-term rental market will not solve this.’

Meanwhile, Fine Gael Senator Noel O’Donovan along with the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke recently met with a number of representatives of short-term letting properties in West Cork to discuss the legislation.

‘We discussed the importance that these properties have in supporting the local economy and how they contributed to the local restaurants, shops and pubs,’ said Sen O’Donovan.

Warning at a recent council meeting that ‘tourism will shut down in West Cork’ Cllr Joe Carroll (FF) said: ‘We could have 3,000 planning applications being sent into Cork County Council which could take two years to process. Where are they going with this ridiculous bill?’

Councillors agreed there was uncertainty and called for more clarity on the issue.