Letters to the Editor: Council should follow EU lead on campervans

A surge in campervans at Inver beach in Drumbeg has sparked calls for a height barrier. Locals complain of congestion and lack of parking spaces.

A Ford Transit Custom PHEV converted to a camper in Ballymena received a VRT bill of €8,500 at 13.3%, though the owner expected 8% due to CO2 emissions of 37g/km. Revenue's criteria state that Category B VRT at 8% applies to motor caravans, while 13.3% applies only to vehicles with emissions of 120g/km or higher. If the conversion meets specific requirements (seats, table, sleeping accommodation, cooking and storage), the owner can appeal within 30 days; otherwise, they may need to pay and then appeal.

Irish journalist Conor Power rented a Cozy Cottage motorhome on a Volkswagen base for 234 euros per night and spent a week traveling around Ireland. He praised the vehicle's ease of handling and the sense of freedom, but criticized the country's inadequate infrastructure for motorhomes, including limited overnight spots and difficulties finding water and sanitation services. As a result, he often had to stay at campsites, adding 20–25 euros per night to his costs.

Shauna Moriarty has applied for planning permission to build a tourism, recreational and community facility on family land at Cromane Lower, Killorglin. The 1.38-hectare (3.41-acre) site would include six glamping pods, nine campervan pitches, a service and reception building, a playground and seating area, a car park with spaces for bicycles and motorbikes, and an events area. The application states that informal campervan parking already occurs along the beachfront, including on the applicant's family land, and that there are currently no purpose-built, serviced glamping or campervan facilities in the immediate area. The applicant argues that formal visitor accommodation and parking would help reduce unmanaged parking and camping along the shoreline and improve visitor management. The public can make submissions by 27 September, with Kerry County Council due to publish its decision by 18 October.

In 2024, the Wild Atlantic Way attracted 9.8 million tourists, with an estimated 168,000 staying in campsites and motorhomes. In West Cork, campervan tourists face a shortage of affordable, serviced sites: a municipal aire in Cobh costs €10 per night, while commercial campsites charge up to €50. Local councillors are calling for regulation and more facilities, and Fáilte Ireland is developing an action plan to support campervan infrastructure.

Jan-Peter Nagel, based in Cork, began traveling and living in a van in 1999, long before vanlife became mainstream. He creates bespoke campervan conversions with handcrafted natural timber interiors and custom design elements. His company Unfollow Camper Vans builds off-grid-ready vans with solar panels, lithium batteries, and diesel heaters.