Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2025
418. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to give an update on the student accommodation at University College Dublin that is university owned. [14878/25]
View answerTo date, as part of short term response measures, the Government approved in principle up to €100m in funding to unlock the development of approximately 1,000 student accommodation beds across a number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including a 493-bed student accommodation project in University College Dublin (UCD).
Supply data from the Higher Education Authority indicates there are 15,532 Public purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) beds nationally, of these 4,187 beds are owned by (UCD)
A new student accommodation strategy is in development following approval of the long-term policy in January 2024. The objective of the new Strategy is to increase the supply of state supported student accommodation, reduce the cost of delivery by developing standardised design guidance, promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy, while supporting balanced regional development by designing a Technological University Student Accommodation Programme.
The output from 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 and are expected in early 2025. I intend on submitting the Strategy to Government in Q2 2025.
