Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to significantly expand and incentivise the construction of student accommodation in Waterford, given the designation of Waterford as a university city and that no additional student accommodation in Waterford was targeted over the eight years of the national student accommodation strategy 2016-24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60073/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am actively addressing the difficulties faced by students in accessing affordable student accommodation.

In recognition of the construction cost challenges and associated impact on affordability of student accommodation, on 29 November 2022, I secured Government approval to develop both short and medium term policy responses to activate supply of affordable student accommodation.

These landmark policy responses will, for the first time, see the state providing financial support for the construction of student accommodation, and underpins the policy commitments set out in Housing for All and the National Access Plan. They will ensure increased availability of and promote greater access to student accommodation, in particular for disadvantaged students.

My Department is working with the Office of the Attorney General to address EU State Aid requirements.

In addition to working with public universities to advance projects where planning approval is already in place, my Department is engaged in policy development to examine a broader range of methods to increase supply of student accommodation. Support of €1m is being provided to our Technological Universities (TUs) to conduct a needs assessment and to identify appropriate regional activation responses. My Department is also examining the development of a TU Borrowing Framework in conjunction with other Government Departments, in line with the commitments in "Housing for All".

The only on-campus provision of purpose built student accommodation in the Technological University sector is the 426 bed facility at the Waterford campus of the South East Technological University. As a consequence of this, students in Technological Universities have relied almost completely on private rental for accommodation. The funding being provided will provide consultancy support to undertake a cohesive and regional focused feasibility study for each TU including SETU. This will provide the basis for an appropriate response to be developed along with business cases for student accommodation. My Department looks forward to inviting applications for such proposals later this year.