Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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249. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will engage with third-level institutions to ensure that no student in student accommodation will be made homeless in the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7883/20]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies which are entitled to regulate their own affairs and administrative processes, and it is not within my remit to become involved in the details of their accommodation provision.

In cases where a student wishes to extend their stay in their accommodation beyond the period agreed in their original license agreement, I would recommend that they make contact with their accommodation provider at the earliest possible opportunity to see if this can be facilitated. If this is not possible, under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 students have access to the Dispute Resolution Services of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). The relevant division of the RTB can be contacted at ssa@rtb.ie.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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250. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will develop in conjunction with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, specific guidance for providers of student specific accommodation to allow students to collect their belongings safely at the end of a lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7884/20]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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My Department's expectation is that those responsible for providing student accommodation would make continued arrangements to keep the belongings of those who vacated their accommodation early due to Covid- 19 safe and secure at this time and would ensure that students are enabled to continue to follow the public health advice.

I would advise students to contact their accommodation provider to discuss what the most appropriate arrangement is in their circumstance.

When arrangements are being made to collect belongings in due course accommodation providers and students should ensure that social distancing measures are followed.