Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
399. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which it is expected to provide student accommodation on campus to facilitate the academic and technical sectors for the foreseeable future; if a specific programme remains available to meet this demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27001/23]
View answerMy Department is actively addressing the availability of student accommodation, given the challenges in the wider rental market. Through “Housing for All”, the Government has approved development of policy and provision of funding to increase the supply of purpose built student accommodation.
This has resulted in the State directly supporting the short term development of 1,071 new student accommodation units by public Higher Education Institutes, where planning permission already exists but projects have stalled as a result of construction inflation and supply chain uncertainties. My officials are also assessing a number of other projects with planning permission for delivery of additional supply.
The Government has also approved funding of €1m to support the Technological Universities in the assessment of accommodation needs, which will inform a long term student accommodation policy and methodology which I hope to bring to Government before the summer recess.
My Department is also supporting increased usage of "digs" accommodation through the Rent-a-Room Scheme. The Government has introduced changes to the scheme to make it more attractive to homeowners. Income generated through the scheme may now be disregarded for the purposes of social welfare eligibility and also when calculating the qualifying financial threshold for medical cards. Local Authority tenants will also be able to participate in the scheme; work is ongoing across the relevant Departments to progress the implementation of these changes.
The scheme provides a tax exemption for homeowners to earn up to €14,000 per annum in rental income. The Government will launch a national media campaign to promote awareness of and participation in the scheme, targeted both at homeowners and students. This campaign will be run in tandem with localised campaigns run by the higher education institutions.
