Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will send the Deputy a note on the technicalities in regard to how that is done but I believe it is working quite well. If the Deputy's belief is to the contrary, I will come back to him on that.

On the issue of accommodation, there are two points. First, we do not have enough college-owned accommodation. There is an issue at present, as the Deputy will know from his own constituency, in regard to institutes of technology not being able to access funding to build on-site college accommodation in the way universities do. We need to overcome that, and I have a meeting with them on that. Second, I have asked our universities and institutes of technology, where they have accommodation, to try to show flexibility in terms of its use. If they think students are only going to be there two or three days a week, I have asked that they try to allow students to book for the two or three days a week. A number have already indicated their willingness to do that, although some do not have the flexibility as all of their rooms are already taken, but again, on the record of this House, I encourage people to show that flexibility. If students are not going to be there four or five days a week but just for two or three days a week, many more people could be accommodated in that way in a safe manner.

I will come back to the Deputy specifically on the Covid change.

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