Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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865. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of student accommodation across Ireland which would be considered a congregated setting according to the definition in which ten or more persons are accommodated in a single living unit or in which persons are placed in accommodation that is campus-based; the number of students housed in each setting; the control measures in place to prevent a spread of Covid-19 in these settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21788/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The details requested by the Deputy on the numbers of students housed in certain types of student accommodation are not collected or held by my Department.

The “Practical Guidance for Further and Higher Education for Returning to On-site Activity in 2020”, published by my Department in July contains some guidance for managing the risk of virus transmission in student accommodation settings. This was supplemented by “Implementation Guidelines for Public Health Measures in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)”, published in August, which were developed by public health experts from within the HEI sector and were endorsed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) of the HSE.

Examples of the guidance provided include the provision of alternative accommodation for students who develop COVID-19 symptoms and need to self-isolate, and control of access to student accommodation, including restrictions on guests.

Ultimately however student accommodation providers are private entities and the exact measures put into place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be a matter for the individual provider. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous with regard to the management of their administrative affairs, including in relation to their on-campus accommodation, and it is not within my remit to issue instruction to private providers of student accommodation.