Student Accommodation
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-12
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Eamon Scanlon (FF), Sligo-Leitrim

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.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-12/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-12