Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
390. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the context of the National Student Accommodation Strategy, and Housing for All, the preparations that are being made to ensure that there is sufficient accommodation provision for international students and English language students ahead of the new academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter [37187/22]
View answerI first of all wish to advise that I have no direct function with regard to the provision of accommodation specifically for international students and/or English language students.
Increasing the supply of all types of housing is key to relieving the pressure on the existing rental stock, which will benefit all renters, including English language and international students. The Government’s plan, Housing for All, sets us on a path of delivering 300,000 new homes between now and the end of 2030 including:
- 90,000 social homes
- 36,000 affordable purchase homes
- 18,000 cost rental homes
Housing for All is backed by €20 billion in State investment in housing to the end of 2026. It gives certainty and stability for those who want to finance and build homes. In order to deliver housing at the substantial scale we need across the country, capital from all sources, including private investment is required.
Housing for All is focused on tackling supply and affordability issues in the rental market. Guaranteed State investment of over €4 billion per year in housing is aimed at increasing supply. An increased supply of all properties, including cost rental and other purpose built rental accommodation, will relieve the pressure on existing rental market stock and rent prices.
On-campus purpose-built student accommodation can also alleviate pressure on the private rental market and may also be available to international students and/or English language students during the summer months. Universities have developed significant numbers of student accommodation units in recent years, through borrowing from the European Investment Bank via the Housing Finance Agency. Borrowing for student accommodation by traditional universities is off-balance sheet, but such borrowing by Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology is on-balance sheet and subject to Government approval. Section 21 of the Technological Universities Act 2018 provides for borrowing by Technological Universities.
I will continue to work closely with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on this matter.
