Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2025
750. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are statistics on the uptake of the rent-a-room scheme with particular reference to students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53523/25]
View answerFor the last two years, my Department has run a rent-a-room campaigns with the objective of increasing the number of digs beds available to students in advance of the academic year. The 2024 campaign resulted in an increase of approximately 1,800 digs beds advertised by our Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
I can confirm that 2025 rent-a-room campaign is now complete. It is expected that the results of the campaign will be available by the end of October.
As of 26th September there were approximately 5,300 digs beds advertised and available through our public Higher Education Institutions which is an increase of 1,500 digs beds comparing to the beginning of the campaign and at least 1,940 digs beds have been up taken by students during campaign to date.
The Rent a Room Relief Scheme which was introduced in 2014 allowed homeowners tax relief on income by renting out a room in their owner-occupied residence and the threshold was increased to €14,000 in 2017. In May 2022, the Department of Social Protection announced a new regulation allowing up to €14,000 per year in rental income to be disregarded for means tested. social welfare payments. This aligned the Social Welfare System with the existing Revenue Rent-a-Room Relief.
The Rent Tax Credit, introduced in Finance Act 2022, was increased from €750 to €1,000 for an individual claimant and from €1,500 to €2,000 for a jointly assessed couple for 2025.
These changes all have contributed to the increase of digs accommodation.
