Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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616. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that he will take to ensure that third level students can secure student accommodation given the lack of available housing through on or off-campus accommodation or through private rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38865/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is clear that as a country we need to dramatically increase the supply of all types of housing and accommodation, including student accommodation. That is why the Government launched Housing for All, led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage setting out a series of actions which will be delivered to address the housing crisis. The plan is backed by the largest housing budget in the history of the State to transform our housing system, in excess of €20 billion.

Since becoming Minister, both I and my Department officials have engaged intensively with both the Minister and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the wider higher education sector and stakeholders on student accommodation issues, within the context of overall housing policy. In a welcome development, my recent engagement with the sector indicates that hundreds of additional bed spaces are to be made available by higher education institutions (HEIs) for the start of the forthcoming academic year. In addition, a major development of 674 additional bed spaces underway at NUI Galway is expected to be delivered later in the academic year.

Additionally, in the wider context as many HEIs continue to support their students to find accommodation in the private rental sector through, for example, the encouragement of room rental or ‘student digs’ in family homes and maintain online databases students can access to search for and check out accommodation, where advertisements for room rentals can be placed and advice on sample rental agreements provided.

Both I and my Department officials will continue to work with both the Minister and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the wider higher education sector and stakeholders on student accommodation issues, within the context of overall housing policy.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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617. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the use of student accommodation for emergency housing during term time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38866/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Primary responsibility for securing accommodation for persons fleeing the war in the Ukraine rests with my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Minister O'Gorman.

It is my Department's understanding that as of 1 July Minister O'Gorman's Department has contracted over 4,900 beds in student accommodation in this context with some of this accommodation being provided by Higher Education Institutions and some by private providers.

It is a matter for individual accommodation providers whether or not they contract with Minister O'Gorman's Department for provision of such services and for the duration of any such contracts.

Furthermore, it is my Department's understanding that student accommodation owned by Higher Education Institutions that is being provided to persons fleeing the war in Ukraine is being provided on a time limited basis only and that such accommodation will be made available for primary student use ahead of the forthcoming academic year.

Since becoming Minister, both I and my Department officials have engaged intensively with both the Minister and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the wider higher education sector and stakeholders on student accommodation issues, within the context of overall housing policy. In a welcome development, my recent engagement with the sector indicates that hundreds of additional bed spaces are to be made available by higher education institutions (HEIs) for the start of the forthcoming academic year. In addition, a major development of 674 additional bed spaces underway at NUI Galway is expected to be delivered later in the academic year.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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618. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to any quota for accessible or adapted student accommodation on-campus to ensure that all students with disabilities can access suitable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38867/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The 2015 HEA Report on Student Accommodation: Demand and Supply noted that the supply of accommodation for students with disabilities was insufficient, and recommended that any future developments should comply with the recommendations for enabled access as published by the Department of the Environment. The report further recommended that HEIs should consult with relevant stakeholders including students with disabilities on adaptation of existing stock and design for new builds.

The National Student Accommodation Strategy highlights the issue of students with disabilities, noting that HEIs should be encouraged to consider allocating additional bed spaces for students with disabilities as additional on campus bed spaces are delivered and become available.

Thee Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science understands that all institutions which own student accommodation do ring-fence a proportion of this accommodation for students with disabilities. However, in this context and in accordance with the Universities Act 1997, higher education institutions are autonomous bodies as regards independent and own resourced PBSA provision.