Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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2646.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to make available emergency accommodation at the beginning of each academic year for students who are due to commence their education without securing accommodation for the first six-weeks of term. [33274/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The challenge facing students in accessing appropriate student accommodation is an issue which Government and I are actively addressing under Housing for All.I am progressing a new policy to provide State assistance to stimulate the development of new student accommodation.

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.

There may be emergency accommodation available within the sector, however Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Technological Universities Act 2018, and the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. Under this legislation the institutions are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes, including student accommodation.

Where a student finds themselves without accommodation it is advised that they contact the accommodation office or student union within their higher education institution as they are best placed to assist.

Digs accommodation can provide a suitable option for some students. We will continue to support and promote digs accommodation. The role and provision of supply from the private sector in key campus locations should also be recognised and continued. The number of student beds currently advertised by higher education institutions at the end of June is over 2,500.