Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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23. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the interdepartmental group on student accommodation last meet; the remit of the group; and the steps it has taken since it was established. [13467/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Following the publication in 2015 of the Higher Education Authority's report on Student Accommodation: Demand & Supply, the first inter-departmental working group on student accommodation was established. This group supported the development of the first national student accommodation strategy 2017-2024 and monitored its implementation. The Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Housing, Planning and Local Government participated on the group.

In preparation for the publication of the new student accommodation strategy this year, my Department has reconvened the inter-departmental working group on student accommodation. It is anticipated that the next meeting of the group will take place in April. The group serves as a formal forum for engagement on matters pertaining to student accommodation, with members providing expert advice on relevant issues, including, but not limited to, planning, development, housing, taxation, and tenancy matters.

The strategy will include measures to increase the supply of student accommodation, reduce the cost of delivery through standardised design guidance and promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy, while supporting balanced regional development through a Technological University student accommodation programme.

My Department maintains continuous engagement with all relevant Departments, and has undertaken extensive stakeholder consultation as part of the TU feasibility and standardised design studies and the annual HEA student survey, together with regular engagement with student representative bodies all of which will inform the development of the Long Term Student Accommodation Strategy.