Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a sensitive issue. The Deputy is correct on one level in that we absolutely want to make sure that anybody who avails of any accommodation gets good and decent accommodation, and that students are protected and are in an environment where wellbeing and standards are respected. We also do not want to accidentally over-regulate the older person who might, for example, be living in a local authority house, has a spare room and is thinking, "Will I rent out that room or not?" Under our new scheme, that person can now do this while in a local authority property, but if the process become overly burdensome he or she may decide not to. It is a balance. I continue to engage with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and I will talk to the student unions more about this as well.

I have just seen that the latest figures we had for the rent-a-room scheme from Revenue are from 2019. In that year 9,810 people - not all students - were availing of the rent-a-room tax scheme. This suggests to me that thousands of students every year are actually availing of the scheme. It is about a mix of more purpose-built college-owned accommodation at affordable prices, a better rent-a-room scheme that works for homeowners and works for students and looking at the private rental market supply as well.

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