Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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730. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there have been no progress reports on the National Student Accommodation Strategy since 2019; if he will provide an update on progress since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21637/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National Student Accommodation Strategy was launched in July 2017 and was designed to further support the development of purpose built student accommodation. At this point there were c. 33,000 student accommodation beds in the country. The strategy runs until 2024. It complements the initiatives to increase supply under Rebuilding Ireland. A total of 21,000 additional PBSA beds to be delivered by 2024. These projections and targets were set prior to the unanticipated factors that have impacted supply.

From the time of the publication of the NSAS to end Q4 2022, a further 12,000 beds have been completed, bringing the total level of stock to 46,794.

I am actively working to address the supply of student accommodation. Increasing costs of construction and financing are impacting on viability, and as a result a number of Universities had to pause their projects. In responding to these challenges, on 29 November 2022, Government approved development of both short and medium term policy responses to activate supply.

These landmark policy responses will see the State providing financial support for the construction of student accommodation, and underpin the policy commitments set out in Housing for All and the National Access Plan.

Further measures to support the use of digs have also been approved by Government in recent weeks. This will all form part of a new Student Accommodation Strategy, which is under consideration by my Department.

In the short term, Government has approved funding to support development of 1,065 beds for students of the University of Limerick, Dublin City University, Maynooth University and the University of Galway which have planning permission granted or at an imminent stage, but are stalled.

My officials are also examining potential developments at UCD and TCD, and UCC also has proposals in development.

These proposals are in addition to the 1,806 student accommodation beds delivered in the last year, with a further 929 beds due to open in Cork and Galway before the start of the next academic year. There are also 2,057 additional beds currently under construction through private developments.

In addition to stimulating purpose built student accommodation by higher education institutions my Department is encouraging the bringing on stream of additional units through minor capital grants, promotion of digs accommodation and utilisation of the rent a room scheme.

The recent extension to the rent a room scheme means that income generated is disregarded for social welfare and student grant assessment purposes. Approval was also given to disregard this income for medical card assessment purposes and also to allow Local Authority tenants to access the scheme.

Support of €1m is also being provided to our Technological Universities (TUs) to conduct a needs assessment and my Department is examining the development of a TU Borrowing Framework in conjunction with other Government Departments, as part of the range of student accommodation initiatives underway.

Details of the Long Term Policy and Methodology will be drafted for approval by the end of June 2023. This will include the input of other relevant Government Departments and stakeholders with a view to stimulating additional supply of student accommodation in the third level sector.

The approach to the development of the policy and methodology will involve gathering evidence and data, stakeholder engagement, establishment of an advisory group and provision of technical guidance.

The policy and methodology will consider various options including: support for construction, acquisition or leasing of PBSAs by publicly funded HEIs, promotion of the Rent a Room scheme and support for the refurbishment of vacant stock for use as student accommodation.