Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
859. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of purpose-built student accommodation units available in Cork city in September 2023. [34080/23]
View answer879. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of purpose-built student accommodation units available in Cork city in September 2023. [34079/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 859 and 879 together.
The difficulties faced by students in accessing affordable student accommodation is an issue of which Government and I are actively pursuing. This issue is heightened by the shortage of accommodation in the wider private rental market. Government is committed to addressing supply of affordable student accommodation attending publicly funded higher education institutions in Ireland.
Through “Housing for All ”, Government has approved a policy and funding for State supported purpose built student accommodation so as to ensure increased supply of student accommodation. At the heart of the new policy is a commitment to deliver student accommodation to those most in need, and to provide it at affordable rates.
This policy has resulted in the State directly supporting the construction of nearly 1,100 new student accommodation units in the short term. In addition, my officials are continuing to assess a number of other projects with planning permission for delivery of additional supply.
University College Cork currently has 1,281 PBSA beds on campus in Cork city, with an additional 255 beds coming on stream for the new academic year, bringing the total number of public PBSA bed spaces in Cork City to 1,536 for September 2023.
In addition, 2,448 private beds have been constructed in Co. Cork since 2018, with a further 981 beds currently on site.
As these are privately owned and operated I would not be in a position to advise on the numbers of bed spaces which will be available for September 2023.
The Residential Tenancies Board publishes a list of Student Specific Accommodation tenancies which are registered with the RTB. This list can be found here www.rtb.ie/register-a-tenancy/student-specific-accommodation.
