Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2699. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department missed its purpose-built student accommodation target by over 50% for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45237/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The new Student Accommodation Strategy (2025- 2035), including new targets, is in development and will be submitted to Government in Q4.

The National Student Accommodation Strategy (NSAS) 2017–2024 was developed to tackle the growing demand for student housing and ease pressure on the wider private rental market. Among its eight core targets, two key objectives highlight the progress made.

The first sought the construction of at least 7,000 additional Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) bed spaces by the end of 2019, aligning with the Rebuilding Ireland targets. This goal was surpassed, with more than 8,000 new beds delivered by year-end, as recorded in the Quarter 3 2019 Progress Report.

The second target aimed to deliver at least 21,000 additional PBSA bed spaces by 2024 over the baseline of 33,441 beds available when the strategy began. By June 2025, the total had risen to approximately 49,000, representing 15,559 new PBSA beds delivered despite unprecedented challenges, including Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, inflation, and significant disruptions to global trade and supply chains.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2700. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that will be taken to address instability and lack of security in digs accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45238/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Rent a Room Scheme is under the remit of the Minister for Finance and the main users of the scheme are the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and my Department in terms of housing and student supply.

An individual can rent a room/rooms in their home, retain their social welfare entitlements where applicable, and earn up to €14,000 in rental income before becoming liable to tax. The income earned is also disregarded when determining medical card eligibility and when examining reckonable income for support under the SUSI grant scheme. In 2023, the scheme was extended to allow local authority tenants to rent a room/rooms in their home to students.

Digs accommodation is not covered by the Residential Tenancy Acts, and the RTB does not have any jurisdiction or function on these types of licences. It is a private contractual matter between the parties as to type of agreement/arrangement to put in place.

Traditionally, students residing in ‘digs or family homes benefit from the goodwill that exists to ensure that both students and homeowners are happy with the arrangement. It is possible for the arrangements to be formalised by way of a licence between the parties, but this is a matter of choice for the parties themselves to agree on.

In 2023, my Department published a voluntary regulatory framework and sample license agreement to assist both homeowners and students who wish to avail of the rent-a-room scheme. The guidance aims to highlight to homeowners and students the key issues to consider when entering into the scheme.

It is my understanding that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage does not consider that there is a need for a legal regulatory framework in this area. Digs accommodation is an integral housing solution for students and any attempt at regulating digs is highly likely to impact negatively on the supply of this traditional and important source of accommodation.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2701. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps his Department will take to ensure that the current tax incentives for the digs model of student accommodation do not replace critically needed investment in purpose-built student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45239/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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My focus is on delivering targeted and effective interventions that promote equitable access to higher education across the country. This means addressing the challenges that may prevent students from progressing into or through third-level education due to difficulties in securing or affording suitable accommodation.

To effectively address the challenges in student accommodation, we are employing four key tools: standardised design approaches to improve efficiency and reduce costs; the use of enhanced supply and demand data to inform planning and investment decisions; the Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme to support regionally balanced, institution-specific delivery models; and the national student accommodation survey to capture the lived experiences and needs of students across the country.

Significant investment is already underway, with €100 million allocated under the Short-Term Activation Programme to support stalled HEI purpose-built student accommodation projects. The first of these projects is delivering 116 beds in Maynooth University, which will be ready for students for the coming academic year.

I am committed to ensuring that the Technological Sector can play a full role in developing student accommodation to meet the needs of students across the country. To support this, the Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme is progressing. Proposals from the sector include the construction of new Purpose-Built Student Accommodation, leasing, nomination agreements, joint ventures and repurposing of vacant properties.

Notwithstanding the above, my Department will continue to promote digs type accommodation which some students might consider as a convenient and more affordable option. As an initiative to address the shortage of beds for those attending college, my Department has developed an advertising campaign asking homeowners to rent rooms to students. Department’s ‘digs’ promotional campaigns which ran in 2023 and 2024 have seen a signification increase in beds listed by higher education institutions for students.

It is my intention to bring the new Student Accommodation Strategy to Government shortly. My Department will continue to work closely with higher education institutions to develop and implement accommodation initiatives under this strategy. I am committed to ensuring that the development of viable student accommodation continues with urgency and ambition.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2702. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department plans to reduce the high cost of rent for digs accommodation for students, currently at an average of €660.55; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45240/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Digs accommodation is not covered by the Residential Tenancy Acts, and the RTB does not have any jurisdiction or function on these types of licences. It is a private contractual matter between the parties as to the type of agreement/arrangement put in place, including rental costs.

In light of this, the Department has developed a voluntary regulatory framework and sample licence which highlights the key issues to consider when renting a room to a student and similarly to students on what to expect when accepting an offer of accommodation. The guidance recommends that digs rental rates should be set at an affordable level, considerably below the rates being sought for private rental accommodation or purpose built student accommodation.

In Budget 2025, the Rent Tax Credit increased from €750 per individual to €1,000 for students residing in purpose-built student accommodation, private rentals, and digs arrangements. The rent tax credit can be claimed from 2022.Following a proposal from my Department, eligibility for this credit was extended to parents who pay for their student children’s rental accommodation in the case digs accommodation. This change applies retrospectively to the years 2022 and 2023.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2703. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which Government policy will ensure equitable access to accommodation for international and low-income students who have no options to leave at the weekend so the cost in rent for them is far greater; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45241/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to tackling the complex challenges of student accommodation through a comprehensive, strategic approach, one that increases the availability of affordable, sustainable, and regionally balanced student accommodation. Our forthcoming Student Accommodation Strategy will lead this work.

It aims to build a fairer, more sustainable system, where cost and availability are no longer barriers to entry or progression through higher education. The focus is on delivering targeted and effective interventions that promote equitable access to higher education across the country. This means addressing the challenges that may prevent students from progressing to or through third-level education due to difficulties in securing or affording suitable accommodation.

To effectively address the challenges in student accommodation, we are employing four key tools: standardised design approaches to improve efficiency and value for money; the use of enhanced supply and demand data to inform planning and investment decisions; the Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme to support regionally balanced, institution-specific delivery models; and the national student accommodation survey to capture the lived experiences and needs of students across the country.

It is my intention to bring this new strategy to Government in Q4.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2704. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the accountability mechanisms in place to track delivery of promised beds under the short-term activation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45242/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Housing for All includes specific actions to develop short-term state supports to activate the construction of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), alongside the design of a long-term policy framework for sustained state involvement in the sector.

In the short term, the focus has been on enabling stalled PBSA projects with secured planning permission to proceed, addressing viability challenges that have hindered delivery.

The Short-Term Activation Programme was introduced as the direct response to this commitment, providing targeted funding to Higher Education Institutions to accelerate the construction of new PBSA. As part of the funding conditions, a proportion of these beds will be ring-fenced for students from target groups identified in the National Access Plan and offered at reduced rental rates to improve access to higher education for underrepresented and disadvantaged students.

All reporting and action tracking is fully aligned with Housing for All obligations, ensuring integration with the Government’s broader housing policy goals.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2705. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the alternative delivery models being considered to bypass high construction costs for planned purpose built student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45244/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I will bring the new student Accommodation Strategy to Government in Q4. The new Strategy will outline a multi-pronged approach to boost supply, improve affordability, and promote sustainability.

A key initiative is the Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme (TSSAP), under which participating institutions are preparing Preliminary Business Cases to create a pipeline of investment-ready projects tailored to regional needs.

Alternative delivery models under consideration include a combination of direct public investment and private sector incentives, such as site provision, nomination agreements, leasing arrangements, and grant supports. In high-demand areas like Dublin, where commercial conditions are more favourable, these incentives may be less necessary, particularly as rent reforms take effect.

The strategy also explores repurposing vacant or underused public and private properties, including those within HEI portfolios, to reduce costs. Private sector involvement may be incentivised to overcome viability challenges. Innovation and sustainability are central, with new national PBSA design standards, pilot programmes for modern methods of construction (MMC), sustainable transport integration, and building refurbishments aimed at cost-efficient, environmentally responsible delivery.