Written answers
Tuesday, 5 March 2024
Department of Education and Skills
Third Level Education
Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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805. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 1 of 27 February 2024, if it is now his position that the refurbishment grant for which he sought Cabinet approval will be provided to universities in order that they can purchase vacant properties on the market; if so, if they will apply through the vacant property refurbishment grant under the croí cónaithe towns fund as mentioned; when he will publish the criteria on how this will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10616/24]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I recently received Government approval for an overarching policy approach for student accommodation in Ireland. This policy looks at a number of ways to stimulate supply of student accommodation, including standardised design, continued promotion of the rent-a-room scheme and recognition of the Government's commitment to reactivating vacant and derelict properties.
My officials are developing schemes to enable the repurposing of existing on-campus buildings or refurbishment of vacant properties located close to campuses as student accommodation, in consultation and alignment with initiatives being led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Many campuses are located in regional towns and cities where vacancy rates are higher. Government policy in this area, through the Town Centre First policy document identifies the need to bring vibrancy back to town centres through residential development. Refurbished properties also benefit from a much lower carbon footprint. Through the vacant property refurbishment grant under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, 6,697 applications have been received to date, of which 3,764 have been approved.
All local authorities, which now have a dedicated full-time vacant homes officer, are currently undertaking a survey of vacant and derelict properties. The Department of housing has provided data on vacancy and facilitated engagement for my departmental officials with local authority officials, who have knowledge and information on relevant vacant properties. My officials and the higher education sector are working with these officers to identify suitable proposals for review.
I have written to the technological universities and have asked them to send in proposals to the HEA in March. A workshop lead by the HEA has been held this week to aid the development of the proposals. We want to build purpose-built student accommodation but we will also examine if there are more efficient ways of increasing student accommodation through the refurbishment of vacant or derelict properties either on or adjacent to the HEI campus.
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