Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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520. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of on-campus or higher education institution owned student accommodation beds that have been added to the system in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6534/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am very conscious of the challenges faced by students in relation to student accommodation, and my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are working closely together to address these issues. This remains very much a priority for my Department.

As of December 2021, there are approximately 14,500 PBSA bed-spaces owned by higher education institutions. The IUA reports a further 3,500 beds either under construction or in planning.

My Department understands that there were 970 new higher education institution-owned purpose built student accommodation bed spaces completed in the past two years, with work underway on site on a further 929.

The targets set out in Rebuilding Ireland and the National Student Accommodation Strategy are in respect of both higher education institution-owned, and privately owned bed spaces. The target of an additional 7,000 new purpose built student accommodation bed spaces by end 2019 was exceeded with 8,300 bed spaces completed by that point. A target of 21,000 additional purpose built student accommodation beds by 2024 has been set.