Ms Michelle Byrne:

No problem. I thank Deputy Barry for his question. The UCC case applies to campus-owned accommodation. The rent did not go up last year but it has jumped by 10% this year. The students' union has made a number of representations in order for that to be lowered because a 10% jump, year on year, is too much. We can potentially see this as a reaction to the rent pressure zone legislation that will hopefully come through in the next year. Landlords are hiking up rents now, anticipating that rent pressure zones might actually cover these purpose built student accommodation blocks. We can also see it as colleges trying to bring in more income as a result of an underfunded education system which is a conversation for a different committee. It could be the outcome of both of those things.

I will let Ms Reilly address the second part of Deputy Barry's question.