Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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15. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total available student accommodation in or adjacent to schools or colleges; to detail the projected student accommodation shortfall for the coming academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22904/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I can advise that the total level of Purpose Built Student Accommodation stock stands at over 48,000 with publicly owned or operated student accommodation beds accounting for 15,519 and the remainder being privately owned and operated.

Current supply figures indicate that 14,599 purpose built student beds have been built since 2017. Of these, an additional 1,021 publicly funded beds were completed in 2023, 674 in UG, 80 in UL, 9 in TCD, 3 in MIC and 255 in UCC. In addition, 459 private beds were completed.

Work is underway on site on an additional 1,974 bed spaces while planning permission has been obtained for a further 11,102 beds. It should be noted that this number could include projects where planning was granted but the project never progressed further than that or may be on hold. Planning applications in respect of a further 2,016 beds have been sought.

A long term student accommodation policy was approved by Government in January to activate supply of student accommodation through state support. This includes measures for increasing supply of student accommodation, reducing cost of delivery through development of standardised design guidance, and promoting efficient use of existing housing stock while supporting balanced regional development.

There is no data currently available on the expected shortfall of beds for the upcoming academic year. For the 2023/2024 academic year there were on average, across the HEIs, three applications per on-campus bed. As of 30th April, the Higher Education Institutions have indicated there are approximately 2,178 beds available in digs accommodation nationally.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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20. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide details on new builds for student accommodation, the number of units, and the timeline for their completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22905/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Last month An Taoiseach and I announced €100m in additional capital under the National Development Plan that will support delivery of 1,014 new and additional student beds, with delivery commencing from the 2025/2026 academic year.

This allocation enables the activation of Phase 1 of UCD’s stalled student project for delivery of 493 student beds for delivery in 2027/28.

It also provides the funding for the previously activated projects with Maynooth University to progress to onsite construction for delivery of 116 beds in 2025. The DCU project for delivery of 405 beds in 2027 is currently proceeding through the tender process.

The Short-Term Activation Programme under which these projects are being funded is the immediate response in advance of implementing the long-term policy focused on regional needs and responses. The Department is continuing to engage with TCD, UL, and UG in relation to potential projects which are subject to additional funding needs.

14,599 purpose built student beds have been built since 2017, bringing the total stock of student beds to over 48,000 beds.

In the past year 674 additional beds have been made available in University of Galway, 255 in University College Cork, 9 in Trinity College Dublin, 80 in University of Limerick and 3 in MIC.

In addition, information available to the Department indicates that currently there are a number of new private student accommodation projects underway in key campus locations nationwide, with an estimated potential delivery of nearly 2,000 student beds.

The long term student accommodation policy was approved by Government in January. This includes measures for increasing supply of student accommodation, reducing cost of delivery through development of standardised design guidance, and promoting efficient use of existing housing stock while supporting balanced regional development.