Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the way his student accommodation plan will address the question of affordability in the short and medium term to relieve overburdened families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29029/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Last month I published the National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026–2035 following Government Approval. The Strategy sets out a clear pathway to improve access to higher education by addressing two key challenges: the supply and viability of student accommodation, and its affordability.

Affordability is supported through a comprehensive suite of financial supports. These include the SUSI Student Grant Scheme, with non-adjacent maintenance grants specifically targeted at students living 30 kilometres or more from their higher education institution; the PATH 2 1916 Bursary; Student Accommodation Assistance; and the Student Assistance Fund.

Taken together, these measures provide approximately €176 million annually to support students. The strategy commits to continuing to target these supports for increases through the annual Estimates process. Importantly, I was in a position to deliver improvements in this area already through the Budget 2026 process.

From September 2026:-

• all non-adjacent maintenance grant rates will increase by between €200 and €430, with eligible students in the current academic year receiving a pro-rata increase.
• The income limit to avail of the €500 Student Contribution Grant will rise to €120,000. This is in addition to the €500 permanent reduction in Student Contribution Charge that I introduced this academic year.