Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
633. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what plans there are for developing on-campus student accommodations units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46220/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI 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 in principle 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 stalled as a result of 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 NDP review process.
Capital allocations for the years 2026-2028 will be considered in the context of the review of the NDP, expected to commence in November 2023. Capital allocations for this period will need to cover ongoing commitments to existing programmes and take into account priorities for future initiatives and capital requirements.
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. I intend to bring this long term policy response to Government by the end of the year.
There are an additional 938 beds in our Universities for the current academic year. 674 in UG, 255 in UCC and 9 in TCD. In addition, over 1,500 privately funded beds are due for completion this autumn.
Since 2016, 14,079 purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) beds have been built. Work is underway on site on an additional 7,023 bed spaces. Planning permission has been obtained for a further 11,008. A further 1,712 have applied for planning permission. The total level of PBSA stock is over 48,000 as of Q3 2023.
