County has second lowest number of tourist bed nights

County Roscommon has the second lowest number of bed nights available in the country when it comes to tourism accommodation, according to Fáilte Ireland figures.

The county currently has 474 units providing 1,376 bed places, the second lowest number behind Offaly with 421 units providing 1,246 beds.

Laois has the third lowest number with 560 units providing 1,587 beds while Carlow (628 units, 1,733 beds) and Leitrim (628 units, 2,452 beds) are fourth and fifth lowest respectively.

In the remainder of Connacht, Galway has 6,983 units providing 17,806 beds, Mayo has 3,526 and 9,586 beds while Sligo provides 4,899 beds from 1,768 units.

Dublin has the highest level of tourism accommodation nationally with 28,435 units and 63,547 beds while Kerry (8,108 units, 22,570 beds) and Cork (7,334 units, 9,948 beds) are second and third highest.

Fáilte Ireland currently reports 225,577 tourism bedspaces across the country. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke said the introduction of a statutory register for all Short-Term Letting (STL) accommodation will be implemented by Fáilte Ireland this summer.

He said this register would significantly enhance visibility of this segment and strengthen the “overall data architecture supporting tourism policy”.

The bed place figures were provided by Minister Burke in a parliamentary answer to Cavan-Monaghan Sinn Fein TD, Cathy Bennett.