Welcome news as Visitor Accomodation Levy Proposal Included in Report on Local Democracy Taskforce

I welcomed the inclusion of a visitor accommodation levy proposal in the report on Local Democracy Taskforce brought to Government yesterday. This comes following my proposal earlier this year to enable the introduction of a Dublin Local Authority Visitor Levy by the city and county’s local authorities.

I welcome the inclusion of Key Objective 6 in the Action Plan of the Local Democracy Taskforce report brought to Government yesterday.

Objective 6 outlines that local government should be more financially independent, with greater capacity to raise and optimise its own resources and that new sources of income should be considered for Councils, such as the recommended levy on overnight stays. It adds that income should be used to directly benefits Councils.

I have previously urged that the Departments of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and Housing, Local Government and Heritage should engage to enable local authorities to introduce a levy/charge on overnight stays, on an opt-in basis, as is set out in the report. Such a visitor accommodation levy would result in targeted supports to improve our public realm in Dublin. This is proven to work elsewhere with noted examples of similar levies operating in other European countries of similar size to Dublin with apparent success.

It must be reiterated that such a levy wouldn’t be another tax on locals but would offer a revenue stream funded by those that visit the city, in most instances on a short-term basis, providing millions in additional funding for the budget of local authorities. I want to see this proposal progress as quickly as possible which would be feasible through my Bill, the Dublin Local Authorities (Visitor Accommodation Levy) Bill 2026, lodged with the Oireachtas Bills office earlier this year.