Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
616. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that he will take to ensure that third level students can secure student accommodation given the lack of available housing through on or off-campus accommodation or through private rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38865/22]
View answerIt is clear that as a country we need to dramatically increase the supply of all types of housing and accommodation, including student accommodation. That is why the Government launched Housing for All, led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage setting out a series of actions which will be delivered to address the housing crisis. The plan is backed by the largest housing budget in the history of the State to transform our housing system, in excess of €20 billion.
Since becoming Minister, both I and my Department officials have engaged intensively with both the Minister and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the wider higher education sector and stakeholders on student accommodation issues, within the context of overall housing policy. In a welcome development, my recent engagement with the sector indicates that hundreds of additional bed spaces are to be made available by higher education institutions (HEIs) for the start of the forthcoming academic year. In addition, a major development of 674 additional bed spaces underway at NUI Galway is expected to be delivered later in the academic year.
Additionally, in the wider context as many HEIs continue to support their students to find accommodation in the private rental sector through, for example, the encouragement of room rental or ‘student digs’ in family homes and maintain online databases students can access to search for and check out accommodation, where advertisements for room rentals can be placed and advice on sample rental agreements provided.
Both I and my Department officials will continue to work with both the Minister and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the wider higher education sector and stakeholders on student accommodation issues, within the context of overall housing policy.
