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

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.

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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