Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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265. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on his Department’s work in implementing the national student accommodation strategy. [29114/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I published the National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026 to 2035 on the 24th of March 2026. It sets out a pathway to make higher education more accessible by addressing two critical challenges, student accommodation affordability, and student accommodation supply and viability.

The Higher Education Institutions Student Accommodation Programme (HSAP) has been launched and the programme board established. HEI's are gathering the required information to form their Preliminary Business Cases which are due for completion throughout 2026. Initial Market soundings in relation the HSAP will shortly conclude.

Research into the Rent a Room scheme is ongoing and an advertisement campaign is due to launch prior to the start of coming academic year 2026/ 2027 to encourage an increase in the number of rooms available to students through this important accommodation stream.

Implementation will be overseen through an Inter Departmental Implementation Group, which will provide coordination and oversight across Government, higher education institutions and other stakeholders.

Each Higher Education Institution is required to prepare its own student accommodation strategy aligned with the national Strategy, and to report annually on progress and outcomes. Higher Education Institution’s will also establish dedicated accommodation functions, supported by the Department.

In respect of affordability the Strategy targets an increase in direct support for students. Funding secured in Budget 2026 will see non adjacent SUSI maintenance grants increase by €200-€430 from September 2026 with students this academic year seeing a pro-rata increase.

The Department will carry out a formal review of implementation of the Strategy every three years to assess progress and update actions where required.