Student Accommodation

Thursday, 18 September 2025

Ceisteanna (271, 272)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

271. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if every local authority has adopted and published an operational policy for the room for a student local authority tenancies scheme, which permits social housing tenants to let a room to a third-level student; the date this scheme commenced nationally; the guidance or circulars issued to local authorities; the number of applications received, approvals granted, refusals issued, the average processing time since commencement for each local authority including Cork City Council and Cork County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49334/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

272. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if income earned under the room for a student local authority tenancies scheme is treated as reckonable for local authority differential rent purposes; the standard approach that is required of local authorities in assessing such income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49336/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 271 and 272 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.

The Scheme is operated on an administrative basis by the local authorities, with detailed guidance and training provided to all local authorities, including that they publish the details of the scheme on their websites. Any additional income received by tenants under the scheme is reckonable for rent assessment purposes under the conditions of the Differential Rent Scheme that is in place in their local authority.

My Department monitored the scheme for a period of 12 months from December 2023 until December 2024, in order to establish the its take-up and impact. The average processing time for applications was not reported and such information together with more recent data on the take-up of the scheme can be obtained from individual local authorities.

Data on the uptake of the scheme for the period December 2023 to December 2024 may be found in the table attached.

Room for a Student – Local Authority Tenancies Scheme – Applications Dec 23- Dec 24

-	Complete Applications	Incomplete Applications	Applications Refused	Applications Approved
Carlow County Council	0	0	0	0
Cavan County County	0	0	0	0
Clare County Council	0	0	0	0
Cork City Council	1	0	0	1
Cork County Council	0	0	0	0
Donegal County Council	1	0	0	1
Dublin City Council	2	0	0	2
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown	0	0	0	0
Fingal County Council	0	0	0	0
Galway City Council	0	0	0	0
Galway County Council	0	2	0	0
Kerry County Council	0	0	0	0
Kildare County Council	0	0	0	0
Kilkenny County Council	0	0	0	0
Laois County Council	0	0	0	0
Leitrim County Council	0	0	0	0
*Limerick City and County	3	1	1	2
Longford County Council	0	0	0	0
Louth County Council	0	0	0	0
Mayo County Council	0	0	0	0
Meath County Council	0	0	0	0
Monaghan County Council	0	0	0	0
Offaly County Council	0	0	0	0
Roscommon County Council	0	0	0	0
Sligo County Council	0	0	0	0
South Dublin County Council	2	0	1	1
Tipperary County Council	0	0	0	0
Waterford City and County	0	0	0	0
Westmeath County Council	0	0	0	0
Wexford County Council	0	0	0	0
Wicklow County Council	0	0	0	0
Total	9	3	2	7

*1 application to Limerick CCC was withdrawn by the applicant Room for a Student – Local Authority Tenancies Scheme – Applications Dec 23- Dec 24

Question No. 272 answered with Question No. 271.