Study Abroad: Ireland’s government will pay for student housing

In the near future, 667 additional beds will be provided through construction projects in regions where planning permission has already been obtained but development has been slowed down by rising construction costs. Along with ongoing initiatives with Dublin City University and University College Dublin, construction work will be done at the Universities of Limerick, Maynooth, and Galway. This will address the major problem of students planning tin their study abroad programme.

The Irish government stated the financing was given in exchange for “affordability promises” on rent for the students who are pursuing study abroad programmes in Ireland. This is the first time it has contributed money to the construction of student housing. The minister estimates that about €32 million will be invested.

Ireland’s minister for further and higher education, research, innovation, and science, Simon Harris, claimed that the action marks the beginning of the state’s new strategy on student accommodation and keep developing ideas and presenting them to the government.

The Irish Council for International Students saw an 86% increase in housing-related inquiries at the beginning of the 2022–2023 academic year. The Irish police cautioned that student-targeted housing fraud was on the rise. ICOS and the Union of Students in Ireland met with Ireland’s housing minister earlier this week to discuss issues with housing. ICOS president Laura Harmon urged the government to create a national policy for student housing as relying on the private market to provide housing has not worked.

The government has now also approved spending on getting technological universities ready to construct dorms, which will involve figuring out what the demands of the area are and what space is vacant. Follow Leverage Edu to stay updated about accommodation news for international students.