Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Deputy's welcome. I think there was political consensus in the House the State should intervene in providing funding to build college-owned student accommodation. We might have differing views but there was a general consensus across the House that needed to happen and it is now happening.

If it does not sound too peculiar to say, I contend it is wrong to focus on the 667. It is great they are unlocked in Maynooth, Galway and Limerick and I thank those institutions. They will now proceed and go to construction in 2023. The bigger win this week for student accommodation is there is now a policy and a mechanism for the State to intervene. I assure the Deputy we are intensively engaging with DCU and University College Dublin, UCD, and they with us, to see if we can move their projects forward. There are five universities with active planning; three are over the line and two we are engaging. This week we have provided €1 million to the technological universities, which are close to the Deputy's heart, to allow them put their plans in place to benefit from a similar scheme in 2023. It is this new policy approach that is the most significant element.

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