Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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499. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the options open to third-level students whose private landlords refused to provide rent refunds to students forced to leave accommodation due to Covid-19; his plans to encourage landlords to provide refunds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14708/20]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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500. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if all third-level institutions have provided rent refunds to students impacted by Covid-19; the supports available for students unable to obtain refunds from private landlords; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14709/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is working with representatives from the higher education sector to address the challenges faced by students in this difficult time. I understand, based on the information available to me, that students who were residing in university-owned accommodation will receive pro-rata refunds if they vacated their accommodation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While I would wish to see the same principle applied in the case of students who were residing in privately owned student accommodation, it is not within the remit of my Department to direct any accommodation provider to offer a refund.

Refund or cancellation policies in student accommodation should be set out in the license agreement signed at the beginning of the academic year. In the first instance students should engage with their accommodation provider to see if an arrangement can be reached in regard to a refund.

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 by email at ssa@rtb.ie.