Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the progress on enabling technological universities to borrow to supply student accommodation. [45799/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In recognition of the need to stimulate supply of student accommodation, the Government has supported my Department to develop policy responses to stimulate the development of new and additional student accommodation for public higher education institutions.

In November 2022, Government approved investment of €1 million in 2023/2024 to assist our Technological Universities to undertake a needs assessment for student accommodation in key regional areas. Department officials and the Higher Education Authority have been extensively engaging with the sector to progress this study.

The HEA is currently finalising the first report of this study, which is a supply and demand analysis of student accommodation across each region. This report will inform long term policy development for state supported student accommodation for the TU sector. The remaining work programmes of this study will commence imminently to design a framework for student accommodation for the TU sector. I would like to thank the TU sector including TUS for their work to date and for their continued co-operation in ensuring the success of this framework.

The Housing Finance Agency Act 1981, as amended, facilitates lending by the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) to institutions of higher education, including TUs. My Department and I are working with relevant Government Departments and Agencies to explore the development of a specific borrowing framework for the Technological University (TU) sector, as part of an assessment of a range of mechanisms for the delivery of student accommodation for the TU sector. The options arising from the TU feasibility study will inform this ongoing engagement.

Latest data from the HEA shows there are 91 purpose built student beds with planning permission applied for in the TUS Westmeath region, in addition there are 285 beds with planning permission granted. As of the 13th October there are 124 beds available in digs accommodation in the region.