Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 May 2024
15. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total available student accommodation in or adjacent to schools or colleges; to detail the projected student accommodation shortfall for the coming academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22904/24]
View answerI can advise that the total level of Purpose Built Student Accommodation stock stands at over 48,000 with publicly owned or operated student accommodation beds accounting for 15,519 and the remainder being privately owned and operated.
Current supply figures indicate that 14,599 purpose built student beds have been built since 2017. Of these, an additional 1,021 publicly funded beds were completed in 2023, 674 in UG, 80 in UL, 9 in TCD, 3 in MIC and 255 in UCC. In addition, 459 private beds were completed.
Work is underway on site on an additional 1,974 bed spaces while planning permission has been obtained for a further 11,102 beds. It should be noted that this number could include projects where planning was granted but the project never progressed further than that or may be on hold. Planning applications in respect of a further 2,016 beds have been sought.
A long term student accommodation policy was approved by Government in January to activate supply of student accommodation through state support. This includes measures for increasing supply of student accommodation, reducing cost of delivery through development of standardised design guidance, and promoting efficient use of existing housing stock while supporting balanced regional development.
There is no data currently available on the expected shortfall of beds for the upcoming academic year. For the 2023/2024 academic year there were on average, across the HEIs, three applications per on-campus bed. As of 30th April, the Higher Education Institutions have indicated there are approximately 2,178 beds available in digs accommodation nationally.
