Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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235. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department and-or the Higher Education Authority have any plans to facilitate the expansion of student accommodation for students attending higher education institutions, prior to the academic term 2016, in view of the significant rental increases that have taken place in the private rental market in the recent period. [25499/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The HEA are currently working on a draft report on student accommodation which will give us an up to date picture of the situation.

As I have already stated, some institutions provide a range of accommodation, and all colleges have an obligation to work with students' unions and other groups, to provide students with details on accommodation options.

Initiatives such as USI's 'Homes for Study' are of help to students and list suitable accommodation available to rent across Ireland.

I will continue to work with stakeholders to explore ways to increase availability of accommodation where needed.

In the longer term, the Government is committed to addressing the housing shortage through the Construction 2020 strategy. This will not resolve all of our problems immediately, but I am confident that the implementation of Construction 2020 will create the conditions necessary to ensure the delivery of social and economic infrastructure that will allow people, including students to live and work in a built environment that is user friendly, safe, secure and sustainable.