Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I could come in here and bamboozle us with figures, but I do think that would be terribly useful. Under the official student accommodation strategy, we are, from what I can see, either on or ahead of target. Approximately 25,770 bed spaces were either completed, under construction or had planning permission granted at the end of the fourth quarter of 2021. That kind of misses the point though, which is that we need a new model. I agree with the Deputy that we need a model that does ease concerns with affordability. We also need a model that is concerned with college-owned accommodation. We cannot be fully reliant on the private market in this area. I genuinely believe that. I want to see a model developed that has a required public subvention element to it. In return for that subvention, however, I want assurances in respect of the timescales for delivery and affordable rents. I cannot announce that model today. I am engaging with Government colleagues on this issue and I am due to update the Cabinet committee on housing shortly on this matter.

A final point I wish to make on this issue that I think will be useful, particularly since the Deputy is from the regions, is that we now have clarity regarding the borrowing framework for the TUs. There is much potential in that sector and I have made that clear to those universities. I will be writing to them all this week to make that clear to them. Those TUs can now access borrowing in the same way as traditional universities to enable them to build student accommodation.

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