Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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914. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on the project timelines and set milestones for the delayed or paused student accommodation projects in both Trinity University and the University of Limerick. [25177/25]

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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915. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on how eligibility for the 30% target group for reduced-rent-beds student accommodation is being verified and enforced across each relevant institution. [25178/25]

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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916. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on whether any additional supports will be made available to students who may not be eligible for the targeted reduced rent beds but still encounter financial difficulties. [25179/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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A new student accommodation strategy is currently in development. The vision for this strategy is to ensure that the availability and rental cost of student accommodation no longer act as barriers to access or progress through third-level education. By addressing these challenges, we aim to create an equitable environment where students, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to fully benefit from the opportunities provided by higher education. The strategy's focus will be on measures to increase equitable access to third-level education. It is my intention to bring the strategy to Government before the summer recess.

€600,000 in Dormant Accounts funding was awarded to my Department to pilot a scheme to increase access and alleviate the cost of accommodation as a barrier to higher education for Traveller and Roma students, as well as those with experience of the care system. We have supported 93 students during the current academic year; 68 students from Traveller or Roma Communities and 25 with experience of the care system in Ireland. A further €600,000 has been made available through Dormant Accounts for the 2025/26 academic year.

An additional €440,000 was allocated to the Student Assistance Fund for 2024/2025 specifically for students who may encounter financial difficulty relating to accommodation.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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917. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on the findings of the international benchmarking and stakeholder consultations for the standardised design study for student accommodation. [25180/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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On behalf of my Department, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) appointed an expert multi-disciplinary design team to research and develop new design standards for State supported purpose-built student accommodation.

The development of the new design standards will be key to establishing best practice and value for money for the State, ensuring additional supply for students, and delivering modern purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) facilities that are functional, sustainable, maintainable, flexible, and safe, with high quality architectural design.

The design team undertook a number of research workstreams to inform the development of the standardised design guidance; these comprised a policy and literature review, a benchmarking study of comparator countries and a stakeholder consultation process.

The final guidance will reflect the findings of these workstreams. I intend on bringing the standardised design guidance to Government in the coming weeks.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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918. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on how sustainability and flexibility will be practically implemented in the new standardised design guidelines for student accommodation without increasing costs. [25181/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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On behalf of my Department, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) appointed an expert multi-disciplinary design team to research and develop new design standards for State supported purpose-built student accommodation.

The development of the new design standards will be key to establishing best practice and value for money for the State, ensuring additional supply for students, and delivering modern purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) facilities that are functional, sustainable, maintainable, flexible, and safe, with high quality architectural design.

The final guidance will address both sustainable design and flexibility. I intend on bringing the standardised design guidance to Government in the coming weeks.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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919. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report what the current criteria are for selecting the initial three pilot locations under Stage 2 of the Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme. [25182/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Stage 1 of the Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme (TSSAP) included the development of a supply and demand model and a programmatic approach for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to submit preliminary business cases for student accommodation.

Following submissions from the HEIs last year, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) undertook an evaluation of these preliminary business cases and provided a report to my Department. Initial proposals included purpose-built student accommodation both on and off campus, leasing, joint ventures, and repurposing of vacant or derelict properties.

The second stage of the programme has commenced. Following an evaluation by the HEA and engagement with my Department, a programme of suitable projects is being shortlisted to provide a pipeline of supply.

The TSSAP is currently progressing through the Infrastructure Guidelines Process, which includes a Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case. Projects for progression under Stage 2 will align with this process, ensuring that locations are chosen based on strategic fit, feasibility, and alignment with national policy objectives.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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920. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on what metrics will be used to measure the success of the pilot phases of the Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme before it increases in scale. [25183/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Stage 1 of the Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme(TSSAP) included the development of a supply and demand model and a programmatic approach for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to submit preliminary business cases for student accommodation.

Following submissions from the HEIs last year, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) undertook an evaluation of these preliminary business cases and provided a report to my Department. Initial proposals included purpose-built student accommodation both on and off campus, leasing, joint ventures, and repurposing of vacant or derelict properties.

Proposals from the Technological Universities are being shortlisted to proceed to stage 2 of the programme following evaluation by the HEA and engagement with my Department. Stage 2 will involve the development and assessment of the initial preliminary business cases (PBC) comprising of a PBC narrative, financial model, economic model and a multi-criteria analysis model. Initial research will be conducted into delivery and operational models for future student accommodation projects.

Due to the discrete nature of each HEI and taking into account their various regional locations, supply and demand projections, connectivity and existing stock of accommodation, a multi-faceted programmatic response will be required. Shortlisted projects will be underpinned by robust supply and demand evidence, provide value for money to the State and will provide sustainable, viable and additional accommodation for students.

The TSSAP is progressing through the Infrastructure Guidelines Process and will align with all criteria outlined within it with regards evaluation, planning and management of public investment projects.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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921. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on the estimated timeline for the full implementation of a borrowing framework for technologic universities for the construction of student accommodation. [25184/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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For institutions other than traditional universities to borrow, a consultation process with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) is required. This would necessitate the establishment of an appropriate framework setting out the criteria, financial and non-financial, including governance, oversight and reporting to define the operational process through which such consent would be sought and obtained. Having passed those primary screening tests, the prospective borrowing entity would then be required to pass the relevant tests, procedures and requirements of the relevant financing agency before accessing borrowing funds.

The impacts, risks and responsibilities arising from such borrowing are key considerations in this context. In addition to accessing borrowing on commercially viable and appropriate terms such as would not adversely impact the financial position of the Technological Universities (TUs) themselves or the wider public finances, requisite oversight, risk evaluation, project management and attendant governance and regulatory processes would also need to be established.

As projects are evaluated through the Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme (TSSAP) funding requirements will become clearer. The need for a borrowing framework will be informed by this and by the outcome of the National Development Plan (NDP) negotiations which are currently ongoing.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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922. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on any plans either ongoing or under consideration to expand the student assistance fund to meet rising demand from students due to rent costs. [25185/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In advance of Budget 2026, I will publish the annual options paper which will set out various possible measures to address matters pertaining to the cost of education. This paper facilitates a public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports, including the Student Assistant Fund. These options will be considered as part of the deliberations around Budget 2026.

The Deputy will appreciate that the funding allocation for additional student finances is determined in the context of the overall estimates and budgetary process undertaken by all Government Departments. All proposals made in relation to further student expenditure can only be considered in the context of the budgetary allocation, having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the further and higher education sector.

While I cannot pre-empt the budgetary process, addressing costs for families and learners and supporting disadvantaged students will be a priority for me in the Budget 2026 discussions.

Any future change in budgetary allocation for expansion of the Student Assistance Fund will be considered in this context during discussions for Budget 2026.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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923. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on the main learnings by his Department from the 2024 rent-a-room campaign, and how these learnings will inform future campaigns and outreach programmes. [25186/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The 2024 Rent-a-Room campaign highlighted the effectiveness of targeted messaging and multi-channel outreach in increasing the availability of 'digs' accommodation. Central to the campaign’s success was clear communication around the financial benefits of the Rent-a-Room scheme to homeowners, including tax relief and disregards for social supports.

Following a review of the 2023 awareness campaign a more focused approach was adopted in 2024 targeting local and regional radio and print media to complement the promotion across national print and social media platforms.

As a result, there was a significant rise in beds advertised through local Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)— with approximately 1,800 additional beds promoted by HEIs.

Statistics show that there were approximately 13,000 views across all platforms during the campaign lifetime.

These outcomes underscore the value of consistent and well-timed promotion, and future campaigns will build on these learnings to further stimulate supply. My Department will continue to work in collaboration with the HEA to ensure the collection of consistent and accurate data from our HEIs to provide a clearer understanding of the availability and demand for digs accommodation and to inform future planning and decision-making in this area.

I, and my Department are committed to running this campaign annually to support continued growth in the provision of flexible accommodation for students.