Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have Mayo College of Further Education and Training progressing with this capital development on the back of the establishment of the ATU in Mayo, which is designated for Castlebar. We are offering postgraduate courses with other disciplines, ranging from outdoor education to, as we mentioned previously, digital media and cybersecurity. This means there is a university campus along with an FET college. We have approximately 900 students in the university and we have up to 700 students in the FET college.

We have a severe shortage of student accommodation. What plans are in place to develop accommodation for students in cities and towns like Castlebar into the future? Would the Minister be willing to work with the management of the ATU in Castlebar and Mayo College of Further Education and Training to provide solutions to this difficult problem for our young people? I know an application will be submitted from the management of the ATU and Mayo County Council on the military barracks. This would be an important step forward in a solution to the shortage of student accommodation.

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