Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
367. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to curtail the conversion of student accommodation to temporary short-term tourist accommodation as supported by a previous Department circular (details supplied) given the current shortage of student accommodation. [46577/21]
View answerMy Department issued a Circular Letter to all Local Authorities on Friday 24th September 2021 relating to temporary change of use of student accommodation. In accordance with the circular, in considering planning applications for the change of use of existing student accommodation for a temporary period, planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála must be satisfied that there are compelling non-Covid related grounds to grant permission for any such proposed change of use, while demand for student accommodation remains high. The removal of student accommodation from availability for student use runs contrary to the National Student Accommodation Strategy.
Accordingly, the onus must be on any applicant for change of use from existing purpose-built student accommodation to demonstrate that there is no longer a need for such use in the area in question. Otherwise, student accommodation should be retained, where appropriate.
In 2016, my Department issued in circular PL8 of 2016, the terms of which remain applicable and seek to ensure that student accommodation is:-
(1) not used for residential accommodation of a permanent nature;
(2) safeguarded for use by students and other persons related to higher education institutes during the academic year; and
(3) capable of being used for legitimate occupation by other persons/groups during holiday periods, when not required for student accommodation purposes.
While these requirements may be subject to a planning application for change of use, in assessing any such application, the overriding consideration must be the need for student accommodation in the area.
