Student Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2022

Tuesday, 22 November 2022

Questions (505)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

505. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details on the proposals recently supported by the Cabinet to increase the supply of student accommodation, including proposals for the State to assist directly in bridging the gap between development costs and rental affordability in relation to the provision of additional student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57707/22]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

In October the Minister updated the Cabinet Committee on Housing and received support on initial plans for policy development for the provision of student accommodation. The Minister and his officials are actively progressing a new policy that bridges the challenging gap between the viability of delivering purpose-built student accommodation and subsequent rental affordability for students.

This will include for the first time the State assisting with the cost of building student accommodation beds and unlocking projects which have been postponed in return for affordable rents for target students. Detailed work is currently being advanced with a section dedicated to student accommodation having been established in the Department. It is my intention to bring a memo to Government by the end of November setting out our policy objectives. Further details regarding the provision of additional student accommodation will be available after this is approved by Government.