Dee Ryan (Fianna Fail)

I am sorry to have been popping in and out, but we have some votes going on in the Seanad. I was listening to their opening statements in my office earlier, though, so I thank them for those contributions. I appreciate that. I apologise if I repeat some of the queries put to the witnesses in my absence.

I am from Limerick where we have an array of very fine institutes that are a key component to our local economy. As the flexibility of higher education institutes in working with industry as key partners and stakeholders in helping us to develop modules that are specific to the clusters of industry in the region has been a factor in our rising employment levels and in the growth of Limerick in the past number of years, I thank the witnesses for their work in supporting those.

I am interested in accommodation, as we all are, particularly when I consider the impact the current lack of accommodation is having on students and residents alike in the areas around the universities and TUs. I commend the witnesses on the work they have done so far. I look forward to the publication of the survey and the results and seeing their plans for a regional approach to forecasting demand for student places in the coming years and the impact that will have on accommodation. I expect work is being done to co-ordinate with the Department of Transport and that this will be transport-led development. In Limerick, BusConnects has taken into consideration the seats of learning. Has the Department put thought into parking and park-and-ride facilities in the vicinities near to where accommodation is planned?

We are placing extra demand on the universities and the educational institutions now to produce accommodation at a level they have not been asked to do previously. Are they equipped to rise to that challenge and meet that? If so, great. If not, what gaps do we need to allow for and budget for to support them with?