Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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303. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date he and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform will introduce amending legislation to address the issue of 51-week leases in investment owned student accommodation. [23349/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I have been engaging with Minister O’Brien and our officials on the decision of some private student accommodation providers to move to 51-week leases from the traditional leases which reflected the academic year. I recognise that while there may be a market for 51-week leases among some members of the student population, it is not desirable for the vast majority of third level students.

With the support of Government, both I and Minister O’Brien are keen to advance legislative amendments to the RTA before the Houses of the Oireachtas rise for the summer recess to ensure that enhanced tenancy protections for students are in place before the 2024/2025 academic year.

Our officials are examining legislative amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004-2022, which will require Government approval. These proposed amendments are to support student specific contracts to reflect the academic year period in the first instance, subject to the necessary approvals. A series of engagements with the sector have also taken place.

Án Taoiseach in his former role in my Department, wrote to all relevant local authorities, including Dublin City Council to seek support and advice with regards to the planning permissions for student specific accommodation and engagement is ongoing.

Student specific accommodation is within the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). The RTB provides a confidential dispute resolution service. Investigations can commence based on information received from a member of the public. A student with specific concerns regarding their accommodation should make contact with the RTB in the first instance to seek advice or register a complaint.