Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We welcome the enabling of technological universities to access the Housing Finance Agency for the provision of student accommodation. The amendment will simply insert the word "affordable". Affordability needs to be at the heart of housing in this State and that needs to include students. I do not know whether the Minister caught the interview with Sarah McInerney on "Drivetime" last week. There are absolute horror stories of students, from overseas in particular, being charged up to €900 a month to share a room with three others. I do not think anyone would dispute the fact that affordability is a massive issue for student accommodation. In fact, I think we would all agree student accommodation is in a state of crisis. This is a sensible amendment for which I hope we can win the support of everyone on each side of this House.