Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
116. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has interacted with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to a campaign; and if he will give a commitment to further engage with it in relation to accommodation and the cost of collage and cost-of-living crisis. [26377/23]
View answerI have regular engagement both personally and through my Department with the Union of Student in Ireland (USI) and regional Student Union representatives. These meetings address issues including the cost of living crisis, its impact on students and their families and the provision of student accommodation.
In April of this year I met representatives of USI to discuss the development of policy and provision of funding for State supported purpose built student accommodation under “Housing for All”. This approach has resulted in the State directly supporting the construction of 1,071 new student accommodation units in the short term, with assessment ongoing on a number of other projects with planning permission. I also informed the USI of the work of my officials with the Residential Tenancies Board regarding protections for students in rented accommodation.
My Department is also supporting the increased usage of “digs” accommodation through the Rent-a-Room Scheme via an upcoming targeted national media campaign. Recent changes to the scheme allow for income generated to be disregard for the purposes of social welfare eligibility and when calculating qualifying financial thresholds for medical cards. Local Authority tenants will also be eligible to participate in the scheme; work is ongoing across the relevant Departments to progress the implementation of these changes.
In light of pressures in living costs, I announced a package of cost-of-living measures as part of Budget 2023 that have already been implemented. In addition I have delivered a range of enhancements to the Student Grant Scheme to put more money into the pockets of students and their families.
As I did for the first time last year, it is my intention to publish a cost of education options paper which will set out options for further enhancement of student supports for consideration as part of the Budgetary process in the Autumn.
[<a ref="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2023-06-01_pq116-01-06-23_en.docx">Accomodation</a>]
