Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have tried to provide a variety of ways to assist students and their families financially within the resources and levers available to me. I agree that any student accommodation provider that is not acting reasonably will not be forgotten by students and their families. People should reflect on that. Figures show that in Ireland, unlike other countries, approximately 38% of students remain living at home during their time in college. Approximately 19% are in purpose-built student accommodation and the remainder are in private accommodation. I would like to see a significant increase in purpose-built college-owned accommodation. We need to find a solution for our technological universities. The largest university in the country is TU Dublin and yet technological universities do not have a mechanism by which they can build their own student accommodation. I intend working with my Government colleagues to find a solution to that.

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