Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2025
21. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department plans to provide purpose-built student accommodation to alleviate pressures on the private rental market around universities and third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14381/25]
View answerWith the new Student Accommodation Strategy, which is in development, I am seeking to both increase the supply of student accommodation to benefit students and also free up private rental homes.
To achieve this, the focus is on a combination of digs accommodation, an examination of vacant property, and the development and leasing of purpose-built student accommodation.
I will also examine sustainable transport alternatives to accommodation close to campus.
The objectives of the Strategy are to:
• Increase the supply of state supported student accommodation
• Reduce the cost of delivery through development of standardised design guidance
• Promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy
• Support balanced regional development through a Technological University (TU) Student Accommodation Programme
• promote digs accommodation
The outcome of the Standardised Design Study and the Technological University Student Accommodation Programme will provide a framework of delivery models and funding options to inform the new Strategy. The reports from these studies are expected in early 2025.
I intend on delivering the Strategy later in Q2 2025.
Separately, the Maynooth University Student Accommodation project, which is bring funded as part of the Short term Activation Programme, is currently on site, with 116 beds under construction with expected deliver for 2025/2026 academic year.
