In the News podcast: A ‘bed tax’ is the norm in most tourist hotspots

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Tourists in Temple Bar, Dublin. Photograph: Tom Honan
Tourists in Temple Bar, Dublin. Photograph: Tom Honan

Dublin City Council is keeping up the pressure on the Government to legislate for a tourist tax administered by local authorities.

The level of the tax, also called a bed levy, city tax or accommodation tax, has not been pinned down but €5 per room, per night has been mooted. There could be a sliding scale depending on the standard of accommodation.

With 21 out of 27 EU member states having such a tax, why is Ireland stubbornly resistant to what would be a boost to local authority coffers?

Dublin editor Olivia Kelly explains the background to the tax.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast

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