Minister launches plan for 3,300 new student beds
A new initiative aims to deliver thousands of additional student accommodation beds across Ireland. The Higher Education Institutions Student Accommodation Programme will begin with an expression of interest process inviting developers to shape future on-campus housing.
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Gov.ie / MerrionStreet
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⏱️ 2 min read
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, has unveiled an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to facilitate the creation of up to 3,300 new student accommodation beds as part of the Higher Education Institutions Student Accommodation Programme. This marks a significant step towards addressing the ongoing shortage of affordable housing options for third-level students across the country.
The programme forms a core component of the National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026–2035 and seeks to boost the supply of purpose-built student housing on-campus. The identified sites offer prime development opportunities that aim to foster vibrant student communities, enhance access to education, and increase housing availability. This initial phase also anticipates complementing on-campus capacity with substantial off-campus developments.
Two EOIs for Phase 1A are now open to interested parties from the construction and development sectors. These submissions will provide insights into market readiness, funding structures, potential barriers, and the feasibility of delivering accommodation at or below market rent. The invitation was issued on 30 October via the e-Tenders portal and the Official Journal of the European Union. Further phases targeting additional locations are planned in the coming months, with support from a Programme Board including the Higher Education Authority, National Development Finance Agency, and Grangegorman Development Agency.
The programme forms a core component of the National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026–2035 and seeks to boost the supply of purpose-built student housing on-campus. The identified sites offer prime development opportunities that aim to foster vibrant student communities, enhance access to education, and increase housing availability. This initial phase also anticipates complementing on-campus capacity with substantial off-campus developments.
Two EOIs for Phase 1A are now open to interested parties from the construction and development sectors. These submissions will provide insights into market readiness, funding structures, potential barriers, and the feasibility of delivering accommodation at or below market rent. The invitation was issued on 30 October via the e-Tenders portal and the Official Journal of the European Union. Further phases targeting additional locations are planned in the coming months, with support from a Programme Board including the Higher Education Authority, National Development Finance Agency, and Grangegorman Development Agency.
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