Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
925. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to develop national tools to record and monitor commuter students, including numbers, commuting characteristics, intersectional factors and educational outcomes and to build commuter student data collection into existing national data collection tools. [47878/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2023 and 2024 the HEA issued a Student Accommodation Survey to students in the 16 HEA-funded Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
The survey sought information on students’ experiences in searching for and living in accommodation. It also asked questions relating to travel i.e. the distance and time travelled by students to campus, the mode of transport they use and their monthly travel cost.
In 2023, the survey was responded to by 22,801 students, representing approximately 9% of the total student population of HEA-funded HEIs for the academic year 2023/24, while the response rate in 2024 was 5% or14,230 students.
54% of those who responded to the survey were 1st and 2nd year undergraduate students and the results therefore may be more reflective of this group’s experience.
As set out in the National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026-2035, the HEA will conduct periodic surveys to systematically collect data on student housing, travel options, and associated costs.
