Laura Harmon (Labour)

I thank the officials for being here today. I apologise for being late. I was at another engagement. It is an important and timely discussion on student accommodation. This has been an ongoing issue for students for over a decade. I was the president of the Union of Students in Ireland ten years ago. This was a big issue then and it is more of an issue now with the wider housing crisis on top of it. I recently worked representing international students as well and I know there are a number of challenges there. The issue of scamming is a huge issue for students. For students coming here from overseas, we need to raise awareness about rental scams, pre-arrival expectations around accommodation and rights. It is important. I am interested to know if they have any views on this issue.

In terms of the report itself, it is clear there is a shortfall of public beds and public accommodation spaces. Cork is lagging considerably behind Limerick and Dublin in terms of publicly owned student housing. I am interested in hearing the witnesses' comments, particularly in relation to Cork city. I have been engaging with the colleges and student unions there as well. With regard to the expansion of publicly owned accommodation for the technological universities sector, I know their capacity to borrow funds is an issue. It is a matter I have been raising with the Minister as well.

In terms of a new student accommodation strategy, what is the timeline for its publication? The Minister has committed that it will be finalised by the end of the year and he hoped it would be finalised by the end of the summer. There needs to be more joined-up thinking between the Department of housing and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the strategy.