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Student Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

Ceisteanna (542, 549, 556)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

542. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the action he plans to take to address the issue of the acute shortage of student accommodation with particular reference to the immediacy of the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46755/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Richard O'Donoghue

Ceist:

549. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address the lack of accommodation for students and the knock-on effect it has on their education (details supplied). [45917/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Mick Barry

Ceist:

556. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he will take to resolve the acute crisis in student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46554/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 542, 549 and 556 together.

I am acutely aware of the challenges facing students with regard to securing accommodation.

The National Student Accommodation Strategy is designed to ensure that there is an increased level of supply of purpose built student accommodation. Several of the actions in this strategy centre around ensuring that HEIs have access to low-cost financing in order to support their building of student accommodation. One of these actions involved the introduction of legislation to empower the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) to lend directly to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for the development of student accommodation. This legislation was commenced in 2017, and so far three universities - TCD, UCC and UCD have had a total of €157 million in loans approved by the HFA, which will provide more than 1,400 new student bed spaces.

In June I, along with my colleagues the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, announced that €75 million of financing had been successfully sourced for the Council of Europe Bank for the building of student accommodation in universities.

In the context of significant unmet demand for student accommodation, I was extremely disappointed to see the recent granting by Local Authorities of "Change of Use" permissions to allow privately-owned purpose built student accommodation be used for other purposes. This runs contrary to the Student Accommodation Strategy. I welcome the issuing of a circular to Local Authorities underscoring the critical need for purpose-built student accommodation to be available to meet the needs of students in third level education.

Housing For All, the Government's recently announce plan for housing, contains a commitment to support technological universities to develop purpose-built student accommodation where such a requirement exists, through access to appropriate financing, and a specific action in relation to legislating to allow for Technological Universities to borrow from the Housing Finance Agency.

My officials and I will continue to work with colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the universities, and the Union of Students in Ireland on these issues.

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