Update: Student Accommodation, 1st July 2015

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent, if any to which a
deficit in student accommodation has been identified within the catchment area
within the various third level institutions throughout the country; and if she
will make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which a dearth of
student accommodation has been identified in the vicinity of the National
University of Ireland, Maynooth; her plans to address this issue; and if she
will make a statement on the matter.
-Bernard J. Durkan.

I propose to take questions 589 and 590 together.
I appreciate that there are concerns regarding the availability of
accommodation for students in certain parts of the country and for that reason
I have asked the HEA to report on this issue. The HEA are currently working on
a draft report on student accommodation which will be available shortly and
will give us an up to date picture of the situation.

In that context, I will continue to work with Government colleagues and
stakeholders to explore ways to increase the availability of student
accommodation where needed. Many of our third-level institutions are currently
working to develop additional accommodation for their students, which will help
to address the issue in the medium term.