Student Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2024

Thursday, 18 January 2024

Questions (109)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

109. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 126 of 19 October 2023, for a breakdown of the number of new affordable student accommodation units to be built and the number of units to be leased, in partnership with the University of Galway under the short-term activation measure; if he will provide an update on the construction of affordable student accommodation in Galway; the funding allocated to the University of Galway for the construction of new units under the short-term activation measure; the funding allocated to the University of Galway for the leasing of units under the short-term activation measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1953/24]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Since last November I have secured Government approval in principle of up to €61m in funding to unlock the development of approximately 1,000 new and additional student accommodation beds across four universities.  These projects are being progressed as immediate response measures to unlock supply of affordable accommodation in partnership with our University sector.

The University of Galway (UG) received approval to progress a proposed lease of 242 additional beds over 15 years, subject to review.  This proposal is currently nearing the end of the due diligence process.

For the current academic year there are an additional 938 beds available in publicly funded Higher Education Institutions with 674 of these in University of Galway. In addition as of 30th December HEIs have indicated that there are approximately 66 rooms available in Galway for digs accommodation.

The most recent Building Information data (November 2023) supplied by the HEA indicate that since 2017 14,520 purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) beds have been built with 1,739 built in Galway. Work is underway on site on an additional 2,016 bed spaces, with 345 of these in Galway. Planning permission has been obtained for a further 11,962 with 1,669 of these beds planned for Galway. A further 2,638 have applied for planning permission, Galway currently have no projects with planning permission applied for. The total level of PBSA stock is over 48,000 as of Q3 2023.

I secured Government support for the Student Accommodation Long Term Policy This week and I will officially launch the details of this policy approach in DCU tomorrow.  This policy sets out a number of measures to increase the supply of accommodation, through all forms of tenure recognising the differing needs regionally.