Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has contacted colleges regarding accommodation refund issues at various campuses for students; if his attention has been drawn to the issue; if so, his plans to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31093/20]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the accommodation crisis regarding refunds that students are facing due to Covid-19 at various third level facilities nationally. [31094/20]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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480. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if colleges are providing flexibility to students renting accommodation on campus in terms of the early cessation of a lease due to the rise of remote learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31199/20]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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485. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to ensure students will not have to pay rent or lose deposits for accommodation they no longer need due to the cancellation of in-person teaching in colleges and universities. [28324/20]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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504. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he is taking in co-ordination with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide greater protections for student renters. [31773/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 115, 480, 485 and 504 together.

On 25th September intensified protective measures in third level were announced, in line with public health advice. On-site activity in further and higher education will be reduced so long as these measures are in place. Campuses will remain open to facilitate learners and researchers attendance for laboratory, practical and apprenticeship training, scheduled library attendance and small group activity on a prioritised basis.

While I appreciate that this is disappointing for students who had hoped to have as much time on campus as possible, these measures are very important from a public health perspective in controlling the spread of the Coronavirus.

Responding to these issues is a significant matter of concern for myself and for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and we are examining how accommodation providers can be encouraged to show greater flexibility to students during this challenging time.

The Deputy will be aware that the university sector is already engaging with these issues. As a result of the decision to minimise on-site teaching, five of the seven universities have confirmed that students who do not wish to proceed with their booking in university-owned student accommodation can cancel it without charge, and those who opt to leave their accommodation will receive refunds. I am awaiting confirmation of the policies in the remaining two - Trinity College and DCU. I am aware that DCU has adopted a flexible model where students can book and pay for accommodation for a number of days and nights, rather than the full semester. I also understand at DCU where a student paid a deposit but chose not to take up the accommodation they will have the deposit refunded in full. I will be continuing to liaise with the sector through the Irish Universities Association to encourage the availability of fair solutions to students in university-owned student accommodation.

For students in the private rental market, I am urging providers to be flexible in finding solutions given the circumstances in which students find themselves. There are, however, no powers available to me under the current legal framework to direct any particular course of action. 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. If this is not possible, students have access to the Dispute Resolution Services of the Residential Tenancies Board.

I have asked my Department to continue to engage with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to monitor and report to me on developments on student accommodation issues in order to ascertain whether any further policy response is feasible.