Reheating announcements for students will not provide the level of housing needed

Reheating announcements for students will not provide the level of housing needed

Labour's Further and Higher education Spokesperson Senator Annie Hoey has expressed concern over the continuing trend of reannouncements of funding for student accommodation from the Minister for Further and Higher Education.

Senator Hoey said:

"Like his predecessor before him, Minister O'Donovan is engaging in smoke-and-mirrors tactics with the reannouncement of funding for student accommodation that has already been promised several times.

"Earlier this week, Minister O'Donovan announced over 1000 new student accommodation beds but 521 of these were already previously announced.

In January, then Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, paid an unexpected visit to DCU to "reveal" plans for 521 new student accommodation beds between DCU and Maynooth University."

"However, the plans for new beds in DCU were actually announced way back in May 2023.

"In reality, the Minister is more focused on appearing helpful than actually being helpful. Over half of the 1000 beds he just announced have already been announced 3 times.

"Government is more concerned with style over substance while students across the country continue to face an unprecedented crisis in securing adequate housing.

"We need government to be serious about student accommodation and to not repeat the same old story."