Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which provision is being made or will be made to meet the full requirement of student accommodation adjacent to schools or colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45640/23]
View answerI 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 provision of funding to increase the supply of purpose-built 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 Kildare area for example, the most recent data provided by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) shows there are 260 purpose built student beds pending planning permission, with 241 beds granted permission and a further 583 beds are under construction.
In the immediate term, my Department has supported the increased usage of "digs" accommodation through the promotion of the Rent-a-Room Scheme. Recent Government changes to the scheme, has increased the number of those who can now participate. This summer, I launched a national media campaign in conjunction with the HEIs to promote awareness of and participation in the scheme, targeting both homeowners and students. The campaign which commenced in July, ran on radio, social media and national press with a second wave in August 2023. As of the 13th October there are approx. 198 rooms available in digs accommodation in the Maynooth area.
