Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank our guests and witnesses for their presentations today. The clear message from all of them is that we need significant Government investment in accommodation. None of us disagree with that. As one of the witnesses said, unfortunately, that does not happen overnight. It takes some years to get those places and beds, literally, in place. All of us know of the pressures on students and families seeking accommodation at this time of the year. We hear it from our constituencies and through family and friends practically everywhere, whether it is in Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Sligo or wherever. There seems to be pressure on every centre where there is a higher education institution nowadays, particularly in the more significant urban centres.

The Minister, Deputy Lawless, stated clearly at this committee, and I heard him state it in response to parliamentary questions as well, that student accommodation is a top priority for him. He indicated to us at that stage – it was some time ago – that he was open to meeting the aontas and also then with each student union. I hope he has an opportunity to engage with the unions because he emphasised strongly that he wanted to listen, act and work along with them. We all want to see progress being made in that regard.

Another issue the Minister, Deputy Lawless, referred to when he was before this committee, and again at parliamentary questions, was that he was clear that student beds must be for students. They have to be returned from other uses. They were built with financial incentives particularly for students and that is the use they should be put to. He also said at that time that there was a significant number of student accommodation under construction, maybe upwards of 2,000. Some have come online or will be available this year in Maynooth, while there is some more accommodation at UCD as well. We want to see more and more in each centre where there is a demand.

The witnesses have made the point that they are disappointed with the feedback from some people who availed of renting a room or digs. Fortunately, constituents and young people I know who have been renting a room or digs in various centres have all had good experiences. Renting a room and digs have always been a part of student accommodation. In my own days in UCD, the area around Kilmacud and Dundrum and back into Stillorgan had a huge number of students availing of accommodation with families, within walking distance of the Belfield campus. Maybe this kind of accommodation has dwindled in importance for some years but it has returned to being an important part of accommodation provision. There is a good incentive for families to take it up. I compliment the guests and the various student unions in this regard because I have myself seen students handing out flyers and advertising this accommodation, pointing out how it can be attractive for a homeowner or family to avail of renting out a room. However, none of us would be satisfied if there were undue restrictions in regard to facilities in the house or the times one can come and go. You are dealing with young adults and they should have the freedom to come and go as they want. They should not be restricted in accessing facilities within a home.

I agree entirely that more Government investment is needed. From what the Minister, Deputy Lawless, has said to us and from having listened to him internally within our own party, I note he has strong views on the provision of additional accommodation by the State.

One witness mentioned the divergence between the traditional universities and the technological universities regarding the borrowing framework. That anomaly needs to be removed. Technological universities are higher education institutions and should have the same access to borrowing as traditional universities have had. The last time I queried this, the response I was given was that the technological sector student accommodation programme is currently progressing through the infrastructure guidelines process, which includes a strategic assessment and preliminary business case. I sincerely hope that whatever preparatory work has to be done to enable the technological universities to borrow on the same terms as traditional universities will be progressed as quickly as possible.

With regard to the presentation with regard to Atlantic Technological University, has all the accommodation in Sligo not been returned to student use? Traditionally, some students from the west of my county, Cavan, went to Sligo. Some had expected to be going into student accommodation but it was not available at the beginning of the term. We had a clear understanding – I did anyway – that all student accommodation was to be returned for student use for this academic year. Could I get clarification on that?