Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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261. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of vacant and derelict buildings respectively by each of the universities in tabular form. [54052/22]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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262. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met with higher education institutions to discuss derelict or vacant buildings in their ownership. [54053/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together.

Direct engagement with higher education institutions in respect of their estates is generally done through the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in terms of their estate management. My Department works closely, through the HEA, with HEIs on the issue of estates in the context of capital planning and investment programmes and student accommodation, in the context of institutional, sectoral and wider national priorities.

I can confirm that the HEA wrote to all HEIs under their remit early this year. The correspondence was in the context of Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland, and in particular Action 19.9 which sought to activate State owned vacant properties for residential development. Under Action 19.9, Government had mandated that all Departments (including public bodies under their aegis) to examine their existing portfolio of properties and consider if they have any properties that are not required, and may be suitable for residential housing, that should be put on the market. We are advised by the HEA that in respect of Universities no properties were identified in response to that request. It is important to note that the questionnaire did not collate material on either derelict or vacant buildings not suitable for residential housing. The Department does not hold this information.

In terms of student accommodation, we have met with all the publicly funded HEI’s to explore options within their remit for the provision of additional student accommodation. We are open to liaising with providers on individual options for the activation of supply of student accommodation including potential refurbishment of vacant buildings.

My Department officials and I have engaged and continue to engage on an ongoing basis with the Minister and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the wider higher education sector and relevant stakeholders on student accommodation issues including within the context of the advancement of the Government's Housing for All policy.

I received Cabinet Committee support this week on outline proposals to increase the supply of student accommodation, including proposals relating to a new model whereby for the first time the State would assist directly in bridging the gap between development costs and rental affordability in relation to the provision of additional student accommodation. This could involve the State assisting with the cost of building student accommodation in return for affordability commitments on rent.

I have established a dedicated Student Accommodation Unit which will bring forward this new Student Accommodation policy as a matter of urgency.