Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I fully support this amendment as it is very significant, particularly for the thousands of students throughout the country who have engaged with all members of this committee and the Department. I put on record my thanks to those student unions throughout the country, as well as the Union of Students in Ireland and others, for their input into this. The committee worked in unison on this across parties. We in Fianna Fáil had a Bill on purpose-built student accommodation and bringing them under rent pressure zone and RTB provisions, as did Sinn Féin and others. We engaged with the Minister and through the Chair to try to bring about a workable solution that would see an end to double-digit rent increases for students. In some instances, they are the reason students have not been able to complete their college education. We want to ensure people can have access to such education.

Much work has been done on licence to reside, and it is very significant. It should make a significant impact. I note the exemptions listed by the Minister, which make sense. I have a question about on-campus accommodation. Purpose-built student accommodation under the previous planning Act is defined. That is welcome and it was in the Fianna Fáil Bill. This will also apply where colleges provide their own accommodation on campus. Are there any nuances as to what applies to purpose-built accommodation that is either on or off campus? Is there any difference? We will wholeheartedly support the insertion of this section into the Act. It is crucial that this legislation is passed so it can be in effect before the new college year starts in August and September.