John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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105. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the provisions which have been made to account for the student population in view of the current housing crisis, particularly in larger cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26467/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s third-level student population is projected to grow by around 20,000 students (or 15%) to 193,000 students by 2024. The 2015 Report on Student Accommodation: Demand & Supply by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) estimates an existing level of unmet demand of about 25,000 student bed spaces nationally. 

Measures to support greater provision of student accommodation come under Pillar 4 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.  Details of progress on actions  set out in Rebuilding Ireland can be found in the quarterly progress reports published on the Rebuilding Ireland website, the latest of which is available at the following link .

There has been a significant uptake in the provision of student accommodation during 2016/2017 by both Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and private developments and projected developments to 2019 are currently capable of meeting the student accommodation targets identified under Rebuilding Ireland. 

In terms of recent progress, figures compiled by the HEA for construction activity to end Q4 2016, confirmed that there had been 1,117 additional bed spaces of purpose-built student accommodation completed since the publishing of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan in July 2016. Furthermore, an additional 8,670 student accommodation bed spaces are expected to be developed nationally by 2019, based on projects under construction and projects where planning permission has been applied for and/or already granted. 

The 2015 HEA Report identified the availability of affordable finance as a key requirement to enhance student housing provision. The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 includes provisions enabling the Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) to access finance from the Housing Finance Agency specifically for student accommodation projects.

In addition, student accommodation complexes of 200 or more bedspaces will benefit from the new direct strategic housing development application process to An Bord Pleanála under the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016. This will have major potential to cut processing time and enhance certainty in the provision of new accommodation projects.

New planning policy guidance was also issued to local authorities and An Bord Pleanála in 2016 on the use of student accommodation complexes outside of the academic year, as their use during these periods provides a potential additional income stream, thereby aiding the overall viability of these projects.  The guidance is available at the following link:

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In order to maximise the potential for student accommodation provision on suitable sites as part of mixed developments, an inventory of publicly owned lands has been assembled by my Department.  The information, including the mapping of the sites identified, was published in April 2017 and is available via the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link:

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In fulfilment of Action 4.7 of Rebuilding Ireland, the Department of Education & Skills is preparing a National Student Accommodation Strategy in consultation with my Department and other stakeholders in the sector. This Strategy is at an advanced stage of preparation and is scheduled to be finalised by end Q2 2017.