I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 to 396, inclusive, together.
The 'Room for a Student - Local Authority Tenancies Scheme' came into operation on 1 December 2023 and allows approved local authority tenants to rent out a room in their home to eligible third level students. In November 2023, Government approved the monitoring of the scheme for a period of 12 months from December 2023 until December 2024, in order to establish its take-up and impact.
Detailed guidance and training was provided to all local authorities prior to the introduction of the scheme, including that they publish the details of the scheme on their websites and promotional material was provided to local authorities. My Department spent €3,780 on the development of promotional material to support the scheme. My Department also collaborated with DFHERIS, enabling tenants and students to utilise many of the existing ‘Room for a Student’ resources already available on gov.ie.
More recent data on the take-up of the scheme can be obtained from individual local authorities. This demand led scheme is operated on an administrative basis by the local authorities. My Department will continue to work with local authorities to support the administration of the scheme locally. I have no plans to make changes to the operation of the scheme at this time.
