James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy. The first phase of the previous strategy set a target of 7,000 units and 8,000 were delivered, 1,000 above target. Of the second much more ambitious figure of 54,000 units, 49,000 were achieved, which is 91% of the target, at a time of Ukraine, Covid, Brexit and the supply chain crisis. That is a reasonably good foundation on which to build. I am not happy with service charges being levied on students and I have made that clear. I have written to some of the higher education institutions that were engaged in that practice to express my dissatisfaction and frustration. I have put a marker down that this should not be the case. We all have to find common cause on this and work together to maximise and optimise the supply of student accommodation. It is so important that we allow students to have a roof over their head and avoid commuting.

I ask the Deputy to look at her own party. I have written to Deputy McDonald on this. Her own councillor, Ciarán Ó Meachair, is opposed to student accommodation. He put out a leaflet just last month about opposition to student accommodation developments. We cannot speak from both sides of our mouth. I have invited Deputy McDonald to clarify that issue. I have written to her but have not received a reply. I do not know if the Deputy expects her to address it today. The Deputy comes into the House and rightly says we need student accommodation - I agree with her - but she should tell Sinn Féin councillors to stop opposing and objecting to such accommodation.

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