Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if clarity will be provided to third level students regarding the return to third level institutions in autumn 2020; if courses will to be based on campus, online or blended learning; and if it is the latter, the advice that will be issued regarding student accommodation. [16223/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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To assist with the development of plans for the re-opening and operation of higher education in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health requirements, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is engaging with relevant stakeholders from the higher education sector. The importance of informing students of arrangements for the new semester in a timely manner forms part of these discussions and all those involved are committed to this. This work is ongoing, and it is hoped that a communication for the sector will be published in the coming weeks.

However Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous institutions and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes. Decisions on how courses will operate will be made by each institution, and arrangements will vary between institutions and between courses. The HEIs will communicate the arrangements for the new academic year to students as soon as these arrangements have been finalised. Questions on arrangements for a specific institution or course should be directed to the institution in question.

In relation to student accommodation, license terms including cost, duration, refund and cancellation policies should be set out in the agreement signed at the beginning of the academic year. While I would hope that accommodation providers would show flexibility to students in the current times, agreements between students and accommodation providers are a private matter, and neither I nor my Department have any remit to issue instructions in relation to the private rental market