Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
237. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to expand affordable student accommodation in the Cork region, especially for learners commuting long distances to Cork city or undertaking courses in regional further-education colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67778/25]
View answerAt the end of October 2025, 2,130 new beds were under construction nationwide, with 212 of these on-site in Cork. Planning permission has been granted for a further 14,908 beds, with nearly 2,500 of these in Cork. The Rent-a-Room Scheme continues to play an important role in the overall student housing landscape. All higher education institutions maintain online databases or private accommodation lists. Currently, there are over 5,200 beds being advertised with approximately 1,300 beds advertised across Cork.
I will be publishing the National Student Accommodation Strategy in the coming weeks. This Strategy aims to support the viability of PBSA projects and increase the supply of student accommodation for full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions. It will address affordability separately by providing for targeted financial supports for those students who need it the most.
The Higher Education Authority is progressing the Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme, which aims to assess proposals from the Sector for projects located on or near each of the main campus locations. Stage 1 of this programme involved the submission of strategic assessment documents, exploring a range of delivery models.
The second phase will focus on developing and evaluating preliminary business cases, which are due in 2026. The programme follows the Infrastructure Guidelines Process to ensure all projects are rigorously assessed for strategic fit, feasibility, and alignment with national policy objectives.
My Department will work in partnership with the entire sector to advance and implement accommodation initiatives as part of the forthcoming strategy.
