Non-statutory accommodation

You can apply for voluntary quality approval if your accommodation is not using a prescribed term. This section explains how it works and whether it’s right for your business.

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Table of Contents

Quality assurance for non-statutory accommodation

Fáilte Ireland offers voluntary / non-statutory quality assurance for tourism businesses that are not required to register under the Tourist Traffic Acts. It recognises high-quality guest experiences and helps businesses work towards clear, consistent standards that visitors can trust.

About voluntary approval

Why it matters

If your business does not use a prescribed term under the Tourist Traffic Acts, registration with Fáilte Ireland is not a legislative requirement.

You can choose to apply for voluntary quality approval, giving your business a recognised quality mark and access to Fáilte Ireland supports.

Voluntary approval is designed for accommodation sectors such as:

Bed and breakfasts
Historic houses
Self-catering
Glamping, cabins and pods
Eco, alternative and experience led stays

Non-statutory application process

Before you apply

There is a requirement for all tourist accommodation providers to meet their statutory obligation which include, but are not limited, to:

Complying with the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963-2000 (as amended or extended) and in possession of a Certificate of Compliance in relation to the planning permission granted and the building regulations including all current legislation.
Complying with the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 (as amended or extended) and with any Regulations made thereunder (as amended or extended), and in possession of a valid Fire Safety Certificate.
Having notified the HSE in accordance with Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 and under Regulation 6 of S.I. No 369 of 2006 as amended and in compliance with Food Safety Regulations.
Public liability insurance

Note: Fáilte Ireland advise all proprietors who may be unsure of their statutory obligations to obtain any clarification necessary to ensure their statutory obligations are being met.

Review the criteria below to understand the requirements.

Fees

A fixed annual fee applies. You can review the relevant fees for your accommodation business in the Fee Schedule.

Assessment

An on-site assessment will be carried out by a Quality Assurance Advisor to review your property and guest experience. You may be given follow-up actions to complete within an agreed timeframe.

Timeline

Most applications are completed within a number of months, depending on documentation and scheduling.