Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
893. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the detailed breakdown of funding allocations for student accommodation for 2024, 2025 and 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56837/25]
View answerFor the first time, the State is investing in student accommodation to help address the sector’s viability and housing shortage.
Under the Short-Term Activation Programme (STAP) €100 million in capital funding has been approved to support stalled university accommodation projects, unlocking about 1,000 new student beds.
The first project of STAP delivered 116 Beds for Maynooth University which were opened to students this academic year. On 5 September, Minister Lawless announced the allocation of €67 million in state funding to enable University College Dublin enter contract for the delivery of 493 new student on-campus accommodation beds under STAP. DCU has planning permission for 1,235 beds; its 405-bed project under STAP is in active procurement and a decision is due shortly.
In 2022, €1m was approved to assist the TU sector to develop a student accommodation programme.
Budget 2025 included €7.5m to activate 1,200 regional student beds through leasing and to strengthen TU support services for accommodation and transport. The next phase of the Technological University Student Accommodation Programme will involve Preliminary business cases submitted and reviewed by the HEA and DFHERIS which will form the basis for a framework for delivery models and funding options.
The Student Assistance Fund is designed to provide a source of financial support in addition to a SUSI grant. In the academic year 2023/2024, the fund supported over 9,000 students with support for rent/ accommodation to the value of €6.1 million.
In 2023, €600,000 in Dormant Accounts Funding was allocated to support accommodation costs for Traveller and Roma students, and students with care experience. This scheme has supported 85 students to date and will continue with an €500,000 in funding for the 2025/26 academic year. Separately, an additional €440,000 has been added to the Student Assistance Fund to help students facing emergency housing issues during 2024/25, including transport costs where accommodation is unavailable.
