Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Perfect. I will give it my best shot. I agree with Deputy Conway-Walsh that all of us in the House should condemn anybody who attempts to price-gouge in the middle of a horrific illegal invasion and massive humanitarian crisis. I will talk to her in more detail about that.

Deputy Murnane O'Connor is right that as we develop the technological universities, and there is one in the south east in Carlow-Kilkenny, accommodation needs to come with that. That is why I am delighted we have clarity now on the borrowing framework that means the South East Technological University can apply to build student accommodation in a way it could not in the past. I am also conscious of Carlow College and the real possibility there is there for student accommodation on the site. I hope we make progress on that.

I agree with Deputy Cathal Crowe. I wrote to every university president on this in February. I wrote to them again, I think, in June. I chaired a meeting with them on 16 June. We have made it extremely clear here that we will do whatever it takes and Members need to keep coming forward with ideas and local solutions. I have had good conversations with UL in recent weeks.

Deputy Boyd Barrett's HAP idea certainly merits consideration and I am not going to rule it out. It is not a policy intervention within my direct Department but let me reflect on it and talk to relevant Ministers about that.

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