Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
905. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the designated beds ringfenced for students from target groups as identified in the National Action Plan, specifically for DCU 405 beds project, UCD 493 students accommodation beds; and if there will be any more funding from his Department allocated for student accommodation. [56940/25]
View answerUnder the Short-Term Activation Programme, €100 million in capital funding was allocated to Higher Education Institutions with Purpose-Built Student Accommodation projects that had secured planning permission but had stalled due to viability challenges. DCU’s 405 student accommodation beds project and UCD 493 student accommodation beds project are part of this Programme.
As part of the funding conditions under the Short Term Accommodation Programme, a proportion of the new student beds will be ringfenced for students from target groups identified in the National Access Plan. These designated beds will be offered at a reduced rental rate to support access to higher education for underrepresented and disadvantaged students.
The Department will continue to engage with Higher Education Institutions in relation to further potential projects as part of its new Long Term Student Accommodation Strategy.
The strategy (2025- 2035) which is due for completion later this year will include measures to increase the supply of student accommodation, improve the delivery efficiency through standardised design guidance and promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment, while supporting balanced regional development through a Technological University (TU) student accommodation programme.
With regards to funding most recently, in my Budget 2026 speech I drew attention to the 30,000 students who will get more support when living or travelling away from home under a measure to increase the SUSI non-adjacent payments by between €200–€430 from September 2026, with a pro-rata increase this academic year. This will help students who live 30km or more from their college campus with the cost of rent, travel, and day-to-day living.
