Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
583. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the date that the HEA will publish its supply and demand analysis for student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4073/24]
View answerIn November 2022, funding was approved to assist the Technological Universities (TUs) in developing a student accommodation programme based on a regional needs and feasibility assessment. The HEA appointed consultants in June 2023, to oversee and assess the levels of supply and demand for student accommodation across our public higher education institutions (HEIs).
Phase one, a supply and demand analysis, has involved extensive data-gathering across all TUs, Universities and Colleges, comprising a data collection framework, one-to-one meetings with HEI representatives, and a centralised student survey on student accommodation. The comprehensive student accommodation supply and demand framework is currently undergoing analysis and data validation by the Higher Education Authority.
My intention is to collate and updated this survey and data on an annual basis. The regional supply and demand information will be shared with the Technological Universities and Traditional Universities as part of phase two of the study, which will commence in January 2024. It will be published in tandem with with the New Student Accommodation Strategy.
