My Department and I are actively working to address the supply of student accommodation in response to the overall supply and affordability being experienced by our students which is supported by Government approval to develop a number of policy responses to activate supply under Housing for All.
I have established a dedicated student accommodation unit in my Department to develop and implement this policy alongside the Higher Education Authority (HEA). 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 (DHLGH) and the wider higher education sector, and other key stakeholders on student accommodation issues.
To date, the Government has approved a total of up to €61m in capital and current funding to unlock the development of over 1,000 beds, with delivery beginning in 2024. These developments have planning permission but have stalled as a result of increased construction costs. My officials are also examining additional proposals for potential developments within the HEI sector.
There are an additional 938 beds available in publicly funded Higher Education Institutions for the upcoming academic year. There were also over 2000 privately funded beds completed this year that opening for this academic year.
Support of €1m is also being provided to our Technological Universities (TUs) undertake a needs assessment response framework for provision of student accommodation in key areas. My Department is also examining the mechanisms available including a TU Borrowing Framework in conjunction with other Government Departments, as part of the range of student accommodation initiatives underway.
This summer, I launched a national media campaign to promote awareness of and participation in the scheme, targeted both at homeowners and students. This campaign is run in tandem with localised campaigns run by the higher education institutions.
My Department is also supporting increased usage of "digs" accommodation through the Rent-a-Room Scheme. The Government has introduced changes to the scheme; which provides a tax exemption for homeowners to earn up to €14,000 per annum in rental income. 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 and when examining reckonable income for support under the SUSI grant scheme. In addition work is ongoing with the DHLGH to facilitate Local Authority tenants to access the scheme.
In line with the updated Housing for All commitment to “Develop policy and methodology for potential long-term state support for the construction of PBSA to provide additionality for targeted cohorts”, the Department is developing the long–term policy in consultation with relevant Government Departments and stakeholders which will include a multi-faceted approach to supply of accommodation. My officials and I are working to develop this long term policy approach which I intend to bring to Government in Q4, 2023.
Last month, Minister O’Brien and I announced plans to develop a design standard for Purpose Built Student Accommodation. The Cost of Construction Study which was published by Minister O’Brien in May of this year, recommends the development of a standardised specification for purpose built student accommodation.
The objective of the PBSA Standardised Design & Specification Project is to examine international best practice and flexibility of design to inform appropriate standards in the delivery of affordable accommodation. The project will be led by a cross-departmental project group chaired by DFHERIS with sectoral and technical support from DHLGH, DFHERIS and the Higher Education Authority (HEA). This work will be informed by a stakeholder engagement process.
