Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin has called on the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien to clarify whether he intends to ban or co-living or just restrict it.

Teachta Ó Broin said: “I welcome in the publication of the Minister for Housing’s review into co-living.

“However, I am concerned that the government is only restricting co-living developments rather that issuing an outright ban.

“The Minister’s options paper, published today, outlines a range of potential actions that can be taken.

“His accompanying statement indicates that the Minister has decided to amend the 2018 mandatory Planning Guidelines to seek to restrict all future commercial co-living development.

“This is option four in the co-living report, and I am concerned that it is proposing to restrict rather ban this type of accommodation outright.

Option 4 is to amend the 2018 Guidelines to seek to restrict all future commercial co-living development in Ireland. This would require an updated guidance document that includes a Specific Planning Policy Requirement (SPPR) and/or guidance in respect of local authority level City or County Development Plan processes.

“According to the Minister’s review, there are already co-living planning applications in for more than 2,000 co-living bed spaces in Dublin.

“If the proposal is simply to restrict this accommodation, undoubtedly some developers will find a way around this.

“We have witnessed this approach around purpose-built student accommodation and owners seeking to change this accommodation to co-living.

“We needed to see an outright ban so that there is no wriggle room in terms of any new co-living spaces being developed.”