Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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2602.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of purpose-built student accommodation units available in County Kerry in September 2024. [31503/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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This Government and I are committed to removing accommodation as a barrier to education. In November 2022, the Government approved the development of a new policy to provide State assistance to stimulate the development of new student accommodation for public higher education institutions. This landmark policy response will, for the first time, see the State providing financial support in the construction of student accommodation, and underpins the policy commitments set out in Housing for All.

To date, as part of short term response measures, the Government approved in principle of up to €100 million in funding to unlock the development of approximately 1,000 student accommodation beds across a number of higher education institutions, with delivery beginning in 2025.

In tandem with the progression of these projects, on 16 January, the Government received approval for the long-term student accommodation policy and methodology. The aim of this policy is to increase the supply of student accommodation and to examine alternative solutions that will remove accommodation as a barrier to higher education.

Government is also supporting the Technological University sector to develop a student accommodation programme based on a regional needs and feasibility assessment.

Supply data from the Higher Education Authority indicates there to be 815 privately owned student accommodation beds in Kerry. As of the 30th of June the number of beds advertised in digs accommodation by Munster Technological University, Kerry is 89.

My Department will continue to promote the rent-a-room scheme in advance of the upcoming academic year, to further increase supply of available beds.