Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is no decision from the Government, or any recommendation from the Department of public expenditure and reform to the Government to make a decision, on the TU borrowing facility. That is something that is raised with me quite regularly, so that is to answer it straight up for the Deputy. However, it is our intention to increase supply as much as we can. That is why the intention of the technological university feasibility study is to develop a programmatic approach to facilitate future TU student accommodation proposals. There was a demand analysis, which was an output of phase 1 of the study and that will inform a framework of delivery models and funding options as part of the second phase of the study. Phase 2 of the study is to identify potential proposals for the technological university sector for the delivery of student accommodation. That is under way. Options include purpose-built student accommodation, both on- and off-campus, leasing, joint ventures and repurposing of vacant and derelict properties. The HEA will assess and appraise these options, with the final business cases due by the end of November 2024.

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