Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Shanahan for his comments. Specifically in relation to the North Quays project, I had the pleasure of visiting the city of Waterford on a number of occasions. The overall Exchequer commitment to Waterford on that project alone is approximately €170 million. Overall, it is approximately €200 million when the contribution from Waterford City and County Council is taken into account. I agree with the Deputy and share his words of commendation to Mr. Michael Walsh and his team in Waterford. It is an extremely progressive local authority that is doing fantastic work.

The North Quays project will be transformative. It is a fantastic city and a great county with massive potential. This Government is committed to Waterford. I know the Deputy is likewise, as is my good colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh and many others who advocate so strongly for development in Waterford. It is great to see the North Quays contracts being signed and contractors in place. I intend to visit on 6 March to see the work in progress. That will unlock so much within the city and will also be able to provide more homes in that area.

With regard to student accommodation, the Deputy will know that the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, in November received Government approval and support on outline proposals to increase the supply of student accommodation. Waterford will not be left out. The Minister last week met the chair of South East Technological University, SETU, to discuss its plans to develop additional accommodation. Those discussions are ongoing. It is the only technological university, TU, in the country that has student accommodation and it needs more. With regard to the expansion of the campus, that is still a Government commitment. Discussions are ongoing with regard to a number of options but, specifically, the Waterford Crystal site. That is something on which the Minister, Deputy Harris, is working with Government and Government colleagues.

The provision of student accommodation is so important right across the country. Many students are renting homes when they would rather be on campus in affordable student accommodation. Those homes will also be freed up when we provide more student accommodation. I commend the Minister, Deputy Harris, on the work he has done in that space. We have already been able to activate a number of paused planning permissions for student accommodation because of the initiatives brought forward by this Government to provide hundreds more student beds on campus this year at an affordable price. We want to do thousands more for students themselves, for their education and their experience in third-level and fourth-level education. Many wish to live on or close to campus in purpose-built student accommodation and we are committed to doing that. We are the first Government that brought forward a specific plan in that space. I will relay the points made by the Deputy directly to the Minister, Deputy Harris. However, the plans for expansion of the university campus are still in train and are being worked on.

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