2026-05-12

163. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans in place to address the accommodation difficulties at ATU Sligo; to provide an update on the purchase of a 16 acre site near the ATU Sligo campus that was earmarked for student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34365/26]

I thank Deputy Scanlon. He has made representation on this issue to me on many occasions. To provide the background to this, in February 2025, under section 8(1) of the Technological Universities Act 2018, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, approved Atlantic Technological University’s request to acquire a 16.35 acre site near its campus, to be funded from existing reserves. However, the HEA has since confirmed that the purchase did not proceed. I will come back to that in a moment. Both Deputy Scanlon and I are aware of what has been happening on that. However, I want to assure the Deputy that I recognise the significant impact that the supply and affordability of student accommodation is having on students, including in Sligo. In March, the Department published the national student accommodation strategy, which sets out a clear pathway to improve access to higher education by addressing supply, viability and affordability challenges, with projections showing demand for around 42,000 additional beds over the next decade. The strategy addresses barriers to student accommodation development through a balanced approach. I will not go through the list but it is quite detailed. My Department has engaged extensively with technological universities including ATU Sligo, and both the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and I will be meeting them again this week. The Department has developed multiple programmes that will be brought forward on a phased basis this year through the newly established higher education institution student accommodation programme. I have spoken to the county manager in Sligo, who tells me Sligo County Council is in discussion with a private provider to see if it would develop the 16 acre site Deputy Scanlon mentioned in order to provide student accommodation. My most up-to-date information is that these discussions are ongoing.

The announcement in February 2025 represented a significant boost for the university, particularly given that this site had long been identified as a crucial element in addressing the ongoing accommodation crisis in Sligo. For several years the shortage of suitable and affordable student housing has placed considerable pressure on both the university community and the wider local area. It is, therefore, understandable there is ongoing frustration. In November 2024, Sligo County Council voted to sell the land to ATU, specifically for the development of student accommodation. We are now 18 months on from that decision and, despite initial optimism, progress has been slower than many had hoped for. The sale was agreed on the clear condition that a substantial portion of the lands would be dedicated to the construction of student housing, reflecting the urgency of the situation. The site has the potential to make a transformative impact, with early proposals indicating capacity between 300 and more than 900 beds alongside the possibility of future campus expansion. Such development would play a vital role in easing the acute housing pressures faced by students each year.

I cannot disagree with anything the Deputy has said but I reiterate that in February 2025 the Minister granted ATU Sligo permission to proceed with the acquisition of that 16.35 acre site at Ardaghowen in County Sligo. The approval did not convey or imply approval for any proposed capital investment that ATU might be considering for the lands. ATU was directed to fund the cost of the acquisition from within its existing reserves. ATU Sligo did not progress with this site purchase. I know what the Deputy is saying about what the local authority is doing. As I said, it is my understanding that, as we speak, the local authority is in discussion with private providers to see if they could develop that site for student accommodation. Without being specific about it, right now that seems to be the best possible way forward.

To be honest, I was not fully aware of the situation. In recent years hundreds of students in Sligo have found themselves without suitable accommodation following the repurposing of two privately owned student housing complexes that had traditionally provided beds for approximately 500 students. Their conversion to facilities for international protection applicants significantly reduced the availability of purpose-built student accommodation in the area, placing immense pressures on both new and returning students. The shortage had a profound impact on student life at ATU. Currently, an estimated 60% of students are commuting, with many travelling long distances each day simply because they cannot secure a place in which to live. It is crucial that, whatever considerations have to be taken and whatever proposals are in place, this site move quickly to provide student accommodation to ensure the fine university we have continues to grow and grow.

I appreciate Deputy Scanlon's considered and reasonable approach to this. I am just as familiar as he is with the history, what has happened and the fact that we had student accommodation that is no longer available to students. A lot of people are extremely concerned about that. What the Deputy has said underlines the urgency to move forward with whatever mechanism we have to provide student accommodation in the shortest possible timeframe. As I said, the Minister gave that permission to ATU but it did not proceed with the purchase of the site and now Sligo County Council is actively looking at the site and what role it could play. It is great to see that our local authority is playing such a positive role in looking at the provision of student accommodation. Obviously, everything is in the initial stages so I cannot say anything more than that, but I can tell the Deputy they are working as best they can to ensure that student accommodation may be provided on the site through a private provider. Even so, I must insist we still have a long way to go on it.