132. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available to students in relation to student accommodation; the additional measures he is considering putting in place to combat the rising cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50300/26]

I am very conscious of the impact both the supply and affordability of accommodation is having on students across the country. Earlier this year, I published the National Student Accommodation Strategy which is available on the government’s website. This sets out a pathway to make higher education more accessible by addressing two critical challenges: accommodation supply and viability, and affordability.

Current projections indicate demand for approximately 42,000 additional student beds over the next decade, highlighting both the scale of need and the opportunity to respond effectively.

To increase supply and support viability, the Strategy adopts a balanced approach. This includes long-term State-backed measures to activate supply in collaboration with the private sector; a mechanism to enable technological universities to enter nomination agreements with private providers and further promotion of Rent-a-Room accommodation.

A new Higher Education Institution Student Accommodation Programme is being rolled out supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). This programme will enable Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to have access to increased PBSA beds by supporting private developers to build PBSA on or near campus through a combination of nomination agreements, licensed sites and site servicing.

The Government's Rent-a-Room Scheme continues to support short-term capacity, enabling homeowners to earn up to €14,000 tax-free annually. As of June 2026, over 5,000 student beds were advertised through our Higher Education Institutions. We are conducting further research in this regard which will feed into an advertising campaign later this year.

Affordability of student accommodation is supported through a range of financial assistance schemes, including the SUSI Student Grant Scheme non-adjacent grants targeting students living 30 km or more from their Higher Education Institute, the PATH 2 1916 Bursary, Student Accommodation Assistance, and the Student Assistance Fund. The strategy commits to targeting these supports for increases in line with the annual estimates process. Combined, these supports provide €176 million annually, alongside the rent tax credit, which offers up to €2,000 per year for jointly assessed couples or €1,000 for single applicants.

I will be publishing a paper later this year which will set out various options to reduce the cost of education in advance of the estimates process.