4. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to increase the provision of student accommodation in Galway; when the new national student accommodation strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26176/25]

Sentiment score: 0.20

My question relates to student accommodation in Galway. Where is the national strategy? I ask this in the context of a city where a recent survey found that almost one fifth of students at the University of Galway are living with family members or are in emergency accommodation. Those surveyed represented 8.5% of the student population. About 12% of respondents reported that they were living with family, while 5% said they were living in temporary or emergency accommodation.

Sentiment score: -0.15

Will the strategy be published later this year?

Sentiment score: 0.00

I welcome the standardised design. It is very practical. That has been done all over England with great cost savings. Let us go back to Galway. Approximately 19,000 students are in what I still call the NUIG. Then there is the Atlantic Technological University, ATU. There are more than 40,000 students in Galway in just two third level institutions. I know the Minister does not like the term "vulture funds", so I will use "investment funds". The Government has given carte blanche to investment funds to come in and build student accommodation anywhere they like, with all the tax reliefs. I come from a university city where we built up a relationship between town and gown given the importance of the universities to Galway. Now people are coming in and building accommodation six, seven and nine storeys high just because there is money to be made, regardless of the area and the feelings of residents. The investment funds have carte blanche to build exactly what they want, where they want, while we wait for the standardised design.

Sentiment score: 0.13

I am not straying into the housing area. I am putting the issue into the context of a city where we have a massive housing crisis. I do not exaggerate. People have been on a waiting list for 20 years. We jump for joy when someone gets a house after 15 years. That is the context. In addition, we have two universities. A disaster of a decision was taken years ago before the arrival of the ATU. The Corrib Great Southern hotel should have been bought by the Government, as it would have solved half the problems. Of course, it was not bought. It was sold on to a bidder with lots of money and then left vacant. The problems have been created not just by the universities, which I blame, but by Government policy. Now investment funds are coming in. It is unusual that so many residents would stand together. I count at least nine residents' associations that are extremely upset. I do not want to find myself in a position of being against student accommodation. I have cried out for student accommodation on campus, State-provided land, so that the prices come down, rather than having it provided by for-profit investment funds that will use them during the summer for other purposes with little regard for residents in the area.

Sentiment score: -0.07