Actions Announced To Address Student Accommodation Issues

I welcome the Higher Education Authority's publication of the 'Report on Student Accommodation: Demand & Supply' which outlines 13 recommendations.  Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O'Sullivan TD announced 2 immediate actions today on addressing availability of student accommodation.

Student accommodation has increasingly become a worrisome and stressful issue for many students and families over the last few years.  My colleague, Minister O'Sullivan announced 2 immediate actions today in an effort to address the difficulties for students in sourcing appropriate accommodation.

A grant award of €30,000 will be provided by the Higher Education Authority to the Union of Students in Ireland.  The grant will fund the development of the USI's homes.usi.ie website, allow them to carry out research and communicate with students and homeowners on renting spare rooms to students.

The immediate establishment of an inter-departmental steering group has also been announced to oversee the work on addressing student accommodation.

I am committed to working with Minister O'Sullivan to address the accommodation difficulties encountered by students.