Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2688. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions his Department will take to address the unfair tendering process for Dublin City University to build student accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44832/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Short-Term Activation Programme, funding was allocated to Higher Education Institutions with Purpose-Built Student Accommodation projects that had secured planning permission but had stalled due to viability challenges. As a funding condition, a proportion of the new beds will be ring-fenced for students from target groups identified in the National Access Plan and offered at reduced rental rates to support access to higher education for underrepresented and disadvantaged students.

Three projects, at Maynooth University, DCU, and UCD, have been approved for funding, with the first, at Maynooth University, due for completion for the 2025/26 academic year. The Minister announced on 4th September that UCD has now also been approved for Government funding. The DCU project is undergoing ongoing procurement and the project is going through internal University governance structures at present.