Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the principle behind this legislation. While many have highlighted this issue today, 12 months ago, during the first lockdown, I was pressing this issue. It was not just the private providers who were involved. The University of Limerick refused to give students back their funds for its own campus accommodation. Many landlords, including the University of Limerick at the time, turned their backs on students who had paid substantial deposits and upfront payments for accommodation.

Sadly, this was replicated during the back end of last year and into this year. These students have been told they are not getting their money back, even though they cannot utilise the accommodation, either on or off campus, because of the Covid-19 restrictions in place. I have pointed out on several occasions that the commercial private accommodation providers are not only availing of financial supports from the taxpayer but also tax incentives for much of this accommodation. These incentives need to be withdrawn forthwith from those providers unwilling to assist students.

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, told me that, while he has urged private accommodation providers to be flexible in finding solutions, given the particular circumstances as a result of Covid-19, he has no specific powers in this area. Many of these accommodation providers acquired lands under licence or on the cheap from public bodies. Approximately 200 of them are in receipt of tax refunds at present.

When I questioned the Minister for Finance on this specific issue last July, he said he could not do anything regarding tax reliefs introduced previously. In the past 12 months, however, we have brought in emergency legislation that has restricted the liberty of every single citizen because of the health emergency with which we are dealing. If we can restrict the movement of individuals across the country because of a health emergency, we can also revise these tax incentives where landlords are not prepared to refund to students the substantial deposits which they have received from them to date.

On top of that, many of these commercial landlords are receiving the pandemic unemployment payment or their employees are availing of it. They are also availing of the wage subsidy schemes, rate relief schemes and other incentives. It is immoral that, on the one hand, these private providers ignore the genuine calls from students who cannot avail of accommodation while, on the other, they avail of the State incentives in place. Under emergency provisions, the Government can deal with this issue. It needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

All third level institutions should provide clarity to students as to how their courses will be delivered from next September. Will they be delivered on a blended basis? If so, will it be possible for students to access these courses remotely in order that they do not need to pay substantial deposits now to secure accommodation? The universities and third level institutions can provide the clarity now rather than waiting into the future.

Part of the registration fee, which every single third level institution collects from students, goes towards sporting and recreational, as well as health, facilities. That element of the registration fee should be refunded immediately. There should also be a reduction in these fees in light of the fact that students are accessing education online.

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