Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. We are all aware of cases where student accommodation fails to meet the quality standards in many areas. Many students have reported poor living conditions, inadequate heating and ventilation, mould and damp. We need to ensure we have modern suitable accommodation. We need to look to provide such accommodation in a structured manner.

I encourage the adaptive reuse model, which involves converting existing buildings into student accommodation. Croí Cónaithe is an important vehicle for that in rural and urban areas, but we should be utilising it in the rental market. I hope that, in time, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, will look at that option. Co-living spaces have become increasingly popular among students. That is an important step forward.

Will the Minister provide an update on any public private partnerships that can help drive the delivery of student accommodation by, as he mentioned, leveraging on expertise and resources in the public and private sectors to deliver at scale and get beyond the point where, year after year, students are in real competition when the CAO offers are made?

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