Skip to main content
Normal View

Student Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022

Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Questions (134, 518, 519)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

134. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he will bring forward a new student accommodation strategy; the reason that no progress reports on the implementation of the current student accommodation strategy have been produced since quarter three 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6449/22]

View answer

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

518. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he plans to bring forward a new student accommodation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6532/22]

View answer

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

519. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason no progress reports on the implementation of the Student Accommodation Strategy have been produced since Q3 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6533/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 518 and 519 together.

I am very conscious of the challenges faced by students in relation to student accommodation, and my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are working closely together on these issues. This remains very much a priority for my Department.

The existing National Student Accommodation Strategy is scheduled to run until 2024. As such, there are currently no plans to introduce a new strategy.

The target for new purpose built student accommodation beds under the strategy is for the provision of 7,000 bed spaces by end 2019 and a total of 21,000 additional purpose built student accommodation beds by 2024. The 2019 target was exceeded, with 8,300 bed spaces completed by the end of 2019.

The shortage of student accommodation is happening in the context of the wider housing crisis. We need to increase the supply of all types of housing and accommodation, including student accommodation.

That is why the Government has launched Housing for All, led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This sets out a series of actions which will be delivered to fix the housing crisis. The plan is backed by the largest ever housing budget in the history of the State to transform our housing system, in excess of €20bn.

Housing For All contains a commitment to support technological universities to develop purpose-built student accommodation where such a requirement exists, through access to appropriate financing and my officials are working with colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to progress this commitment.

Covid-19 has disrupted the publication of progress reports on the implementation of the current student accommodation strategy. However, my Department does have the most recent figures in the area for Q4 2021, and can provide them to you directly.

Top
Share