Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)

I am happy to join with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, to speak to this from a housing perspective because, obviously, that is another cost that is incurred by students. I want to outline what we will do in that regard.

I thank all contributors to this evening's debate. The Government is very much aware of the costs that students and families may encounter when attending tertiary education. We are committed to easing the financial burden on students and their families by reducing the cost of education in a way that is sustainable, equitable and, indeed, targeted. I can assure the House that the Government is absolutely committed to fair and equal access to quality further and higher education. This is reflected in the current student support framework that operates across the tertiary education system. Improved supports for students' access and inclusion will be at the heart of everything we will do, breaking down barriers to ensure everyone is provided with opportunities to reach their potential.

As we look to improve these supports, we must consider resources and where they are best deployed. We must recognise that the provision of further and higher education funding on an annual basis, including allocation towards student supports, are part of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy for Government. The programme for Government already sets out a commitment to reducing the student contribution in a financially sustainable manner over the lifetime of this Government. It is fully intended to progress this commitment and other programme for Government commitments in a way that is equitable, funded and fair.

It is important today to set out the work the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is doing to effectively address the challenges in respect of student accommodation. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, recently published a design guide for State-sponsored student accommodation. The guide reflects stakeholder feedback, ensuring that design standards are both practical and responsive to real world needs. It will support the efficient delivery of additional student accommodation that prioritises student well-being, provides long-term value for the State and embodies high-quality architectural design. The technological sector student accommodation programme is assessing higher education institution proposals for student accommodation projects on or near each of their main campus locations. Stage two of this programme is under way with the development and assessment of initial preliminary business cases. Shortlisted projects will be underpinned by robust supply-and-demand evidence, provide value for money to the State and provide sustainable, viable and affordable accommodation for students.

Informed by these tools, a new student accommodation strategy will be published later this year. The strategy will address affordability and viability through funding, design and delivery of accommodation that is sustainable and regionally balanced. Almost 16,000 purpose-built student beds have been delivered since 2017. More than 3,000 of these are publicly owned. Of these, 924 publicly funded beds became available in UCD in 2021. Some 1,021 beds became available in 2023, that is, 674 in the University of Galway, 255 in University College Cork and nine in Trinity College Dublin, with the University of Limerick having acquired and opened 18 new students beds, and three in Mary Immaculate College. The first of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science's short-term activation projects at Maynooth University is on track for the 2025-26 academic year. The 116-bed project required €14.2 million in State funding. The Government also approved in principle €41 million for the DCU 405-bed project and €67 million for the UCD 493-bed project. Both projects are at the moment at tender phase. Officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science have been in discussions with those from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality over the return of student accommodation to market. This has resulted in more than 2,000 previously contracted student beds being released this year.

Digs remain an alternative accommodation option. In 2023, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science published a voluntary regulatory framework and sample licence agreement for homeowners and students. A 2025 advertising campaign asking homeowners to rent rooms to students will commence in August.

In terms of financial supports towards accommodation costs, the main financial support available to assist with the cost of college is the student grant scheme. Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, is open for applications and students can check their eligibility on www.susi.ie. There is a rent tax credit of €1,000 that became available in 2025. Where relevant, a parent can claim the tax credit on behalf of his or her student child. There is also a programme for Government commitment to increase this credit.

To briefly sum up, between the Ministers, Deputies Lawless and Browne, they are from an accommodation point of view bringing forward strategies that deliver apartments at scale and in an efficient way. That is a very important part of this. I urge students out there to avail of the €1,000 rent tax credit because what we are seeing from our figures is that quite a large number of students are not availing of that tax credit. I am confident that the Minister, Deputy Lawless, will bring forward proposals in the budget that are fair.

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