Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today announced a State investment of more than €40 million to support the delivery of 405 student accommodation beds in DCU.
The funding was agreed at Government today, which also noted there is work ongoing with UCD, Trinity and UCC on similar projects, and will support the Housing For All strategy.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said: “At the heart of this policy is a commitment to deliver more student accommodation.
“This is a policy departure for the State but we firmly believe an investment in student accommodation is an investment in our young people.
“By increasing the number of beds available, we are helping more people access accommodation and also helping to relieve some of the pressures in the housing market.
"I really want to thank the President of DCU Daire Keogh and his team for their commitment and for working with us to provide this project.
"This follows similar success with University of Limerick, University of Galway and Maynooth University.
"And we will continue to work with others to get these projects over the line and delivering for the higher education sector."
Minister Harris added: “My Department and I are working on a strategic policy and methodology for state supported student accommodation provision which I will update Government on by the end of June.
“This policy approach will acknowledge the importance of appropriate supply and affordability of student accommodation for our higher education sector in meeting the increasing student numbers and realising the commitment of government as set out in Housing for All.”
Up to €41 million has been allocated for the new beds as part of the Government initiative to activate purpose-built student accommodation projects with planning permission.
This is Phase 1 of the work with DCU.
DCU President Professor Dáire Keogh said: "Dublin City University warmly welcomes this major investment by the government, which enables us to press ahead with ambitious plans to construct accommodation for an additional 400 students on our Glasnevin campus.
"This construction of purpose-built, on-campus accommodation will alleviate the pressures on students and free up housing and support the Housing for All policy.
“We are grateful to Minister Harris for his determined leadership on this issue and hope that this project will provide a model for similar housing solutions on Higher Education campuses nationally."
This funding will add 405 beds to the 667 new beds approved by Government last November.