James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My daughter also commutes to college and I would prefer if she did not have to commute such a distance. I see at first hand that it can detract from quality of life. I have met student unions, most recently the union in Maynooth, and have heard that message conveyed. I completely get it and appreciate it.

On the framework being voluntary rather than mandatory, there is always a risk at a time when we are trying to increase supply and where there have been traditional arrangements in respect of digs accommodation. It is not quite the same as a tenancy or private rental arrangement. There is a degree of informality about it. There is a balance to be struck if we are to avoid scaring potential digs providers out of the market. It is often a "mom and pop" operation, a householder with a spare room or an elderly person who takes someone in during the college week. It arises in those types of situations. Of course, we need to protect students and all of those entering into arrangements but that must be balanced against the risk of an overly burdensome framework discouraging those people from participating, which would lead to a shortage of supply, which also would not be a good thing.

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