Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know the Deputy is trying to provide certainty for people and I agree with it. I am not telling anybody not to take accommodation. Some students will decide to take accommodation to use the library or because they want to live away from home. People have a variety of reasons to do different things. I am telling people what college life will look like at level 3, level 4 and level 5, which is where we are going to be in the new year while we roll out vaccines. It is likely that the bulk of lectures will take place online.

I expect rebates or refunds to be given in circumstances where accommodation is owned by the colleges. My Department does not have a lever to pull where privately owned accommodation is concerned. I have made some arrangements to assist students financially in other ways. For example, we have doubled the student assistance fund from €8 million to €16 million. Students facing financial challenges may be able to approach this fund for assistance.

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