Gary Gannon
Question:114. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the action his Department is undertaking to tackle student accommodation shortages. [45747/23]
View answerThursday, 19 October 2023
Questions (114)
Written answers
I am actively prioritising the supply and affordability of student accommodation, in recognition of the challenges our students are facing. Through “Housing for All”, the Government has approved development of policy and funding to increase the supply of student accommodation.
I have to date secured Government approval of up to €61m in funding to unlock the development of up to 1,000 additional student accommodation beds in partnership with our University sector. These projects which are being progressed under my Department’s Short Term Activation Plan, are developments that had planning permission but had not been activated as a result of viability concerns linked to increased construction and financing costs.
My Officials are examining similar proposals with planning permission with UCD and TCD. Subject to approval, I will be seeking Government support in the coming weeks to progress these additional projects through the National Development Plan review process.
Government approved investment of €1m in 2023/2024 to assist our TUs to undertake a needs assessment for student accommodation in key regional areas. Department officials and the HEA have been extensively engaging with the sector to progress this study. The HEA is currently finalising the first report of this study, which is a supply and demand analysis of student accommodation across each region. This report will inform long term policy development for state supported student accommodation for the TU sector.
The output of this study will inform the development of the long term student accommodation policy which I plan to bring to Government before the end of the year. The policy is expected to provide for a range of measures to address student accommodation challenges, including purpose-built student accommodation along with other measures such as the promotion of digs accommodation and identification of suitable refurbishment projects.
Since 2016, over 14,000 purpose built student beds have been built, with further 7,029 under construction. Planning permission has been granted for an additional 11,008 beds, with 1,800 beds awaiting planning decision. The total stock of purpose built student accommodation equates to over 48,000 beds (Q2 2023). This year sees an additional 938 publicly funded beds available, with over 2,000 privately funded beds due for completion this autumn.
In the Dublin area, the most recent data shows there are 829 purpose built student beds pending planning permission, with 5,863 beds granted planning permission and a further 5,656 beds under construction. Additionally, as of the 13th October there are approx. 777 rooms available in digs accommodation in the Dublin area.