Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 June 2023
175. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline any supports or schemes available to assist with the construction and provision of student accommodation. [28698/23]
View answerI am actively working to address the supply of student accommodation. Increasing costs of construction and financing are impacting on viability, and as a result a number of Universities had to pause their projects. In responding to these challenges, on 29 November 2022, Government approved development of both short and medium term policy responses to activate supply.
These landmark policy responses will see the State providing financial support for the construction of student accommodation so as to ensure increased availability and promote greater access in particular for student groups in line with the National Access Plan, and underpin the policy commitments set out in Housing for All.
I have already established a dedicated student accommodation unit in my Department to develop and implement this policy alongside the Higher Education Authority. Since taking up office, my Department officials and I have engaged and continue to engage on an ongoing basis with the Minister and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the wider higher education sector, and other key stakeholders on student accommodation issues.
In the short term, Government has approved funding to support development of 1,065 beds for students of the University of Limerick, Dublin City University, Maynooth University and the University of Galway which have planning permission granted but had stalled.
My officials are also examining potential developments at UCD and TCD, and UCC also has proposals in development.
These proposals are in addition to the 1,806 student accommodation beds delivered in the last year, with a further 929 beds due to open in Cork and Galway before the start of the next academic year.
The Government agreed to support the development of long term evidence informed strategic policy to stimulate appropriate supply of student accommodation. This will include the development of standardised design specifications and guidance for future developments. This will also be informed by ongoing analysis across Europe and internationally for best practice for the delivery and management of student accommodation.
The Department and HEA are working with the higher education sector to define and gather accurate relevant and informative data related to student accommodation to inform future policy development and responses.
Support of €1m is also being provided to our Technological Universities (TUs) to conduct a needs assessment and my Department is examining the development of a TU Borrowing Framework in conjunction with other Government Departments, as part of the range of student accommodation initiatives underway.
My Department is supporting increased usage of "digs" accommodation through the Rent-a-Room Scheme. Department officials have been engaging with the sector and have met with a number of HEIs in relation to digs accommodation.
The Government has approved the extension of the Rent a Room scheme income disregard for social welfare recipients and medical card holders. The changes approved will also allow Local Authority tenants to access 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 in particular at homeowners. This campaign will be run in tandem with localised campaigns led by the higher education institutions.
My officials also continue to engage with DHLGH in relation to identification of vacant premises. Local authorities are currently gathering data on vacant properties in their functional areas. The data gathered can be used to report on vacancy levels, and can be used to assist in activation of those properties. It is intended that the survey will be completed by local authorities in mid-2023. My Department officials are also examining the expansion of the Capital Devolved Grant to provide assistance for the development or refurbishment of student accommodation.
As part of the long term response my Department are exploring a variety of options to bring on stream additional units. The long-term data driven, evidence based strategy is currently being developed to provide solutions to the student accommodation crisis. It is my intention to update Government on this strategy in Q2 2023.
