Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I had a conversation recently with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, on accommodation and am aware that he is working hard on it, but I want to draw it to the attention of the Leader of the House. I suggest that we have a debate on it, or that, at a minimum, the Leader bring us an up-to-date report on it and express the urgency of the matter and our concern. I ask that purpose-built student accommodation be provided on every campus, including the campuses of all the new universities, and indeed some of the post-leaving certificate, PLC, colleges, albeit to a lesser degree. People go to other towns to study in PLC colleges so there should be accommodation in them. If we could have student accommodation on every campus in the country – it should not be beyond doing – it would ease the pressure on housing. It would have a lot of merit from education, university and community points of view that I do not need to go into now. Importantly, it would ease the pressure on housing. It should be possible as a joint venture involving the colleges and the State. The accommodation would pay for itself. The rents should be a lot less than they are now.

There should be accommodation for the nursing staff of hospitals, particularly those who commute from the country to stay a few nights in Dublin to nurse in the major hospitals. There are many old buildings, such as convents, attached to hospitals and these could be converted very reasonably. If we could have accommodation for nurses and students on campus, it would do a considerable amount. It should be made happen with urgency. I urge the Leader to get us a report on this and, better still, invite the Minister in to discuss it.