State-backed student accommodation to have twin rooms and shared bathrooms to boost bed capacity
STATE-BACKED STUDENT accommodation will have shared bathrooms, twin rooms, and communal kitchens in a bid to increase bed capacity.
Cabinet will today note the new national design standards which aims to ensure faster delivery of much-needed student accommodation.
The current reliance on individual ensuite units is to be replaced with the new model which will enable greater use of 'shared facilities', ministers will hear today.
The new design will support higher bed capacity, faster delivery and procurement savings, Cabinet will be told.
Higher Education Minister James Lawless will also state that shared and communal areas will 'encourage a more sociable, integrated student experience'.
In November 2022, the government decided to to get involved in the development of new student accommodation for higher education institutions. This was the first time the State stepped in to provide funding to build student accommodation.
Advertisement
On the back of a construction cost study carried out two years ago, students, providers, planners and experts were consulted on what might make the best possible design for student accommodation. The new design principles published today follow such engagement.
Lack of student accommodation
The lack of student accommodation has been a
long-standing factor
during the housing crisis, particularly at the start of each academic year. Student representative bodies have been sounding the alarm over the lack of accommodation for many years.
On the back of new Rent Pressure Zone legislation signed into law last week, Housing Minister James Browne
confirmed that there 'won't be any special measures' put in
place to protect students renting in the private sector from rising rents.
Browne said he would be meeting with the Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless to 'see what proposals we can to ensure that students are protected in student-specific accommodation'.
On a separate issue, Lawless, along with Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers will update Cabinet on the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan, which aims to expand public sector participation in apprenticeship.
It aims hit 750 yearly registrations, with registrations rising from 67 in 2022 to a projected 554 in 2025.
New apprenticeships have been developed in key areas such as social work, digital marketing, spatial planning and public service operations.
Leaving Cert reform
Separately, Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee will update Cabinet on the new Leaving Cert curriculum and the outcome of recent ballots held by post-primary teacher unions.
Related Reads
Govt to expedite legal change to stop student accommodation providers mandating 51-week leases
Landlord letting room by college campus asks students for 20 hours' childminding in lieu of rent
Students told to pay year's rent of over €8,000 in two cash installments or risk losing tenancy
The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland rejected the measures aimed at enabling Leaving Cert reforms, and voted in favour of industrial action.
ASTI members voted to reject the Senior Cycle Redevelopment – Implementation Support Measures' by 68% to 32%. The turnout was 73%.
TUI members voted by 73% to 27% to accept the supports package.
The reforms, which are due to be implemented this September, propose allocating a minimum of 40% of Leaving Cert marks to project work or practicals across all subjects in an effort to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of student's skills.
But teachers have voiced concerns about how the moves will affect the way students are assessed and marked, especially in the context of the risk of students using artificial intelligence to complete assignments.
The minister will say that while supports for teachers included in the Senior Cycle reform package will benefit TUI members, the implementation of targeted supports for students contained in the package will not be affected by the outcome of the ballots, and that the department will engage with representatives of teachers and school management bodies over the summer in respect of the implementation of senior cycle reform.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
26 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Tourism tax could help fund ‘significant' revitalisation of Dublin
The Dublin City Taskforce report, published in October 2024, said the Irish capital has become 'less welcoming' since the financial crash and pandemic and makes recommendations on how to revive it. At a press conference on Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Sean Canney confirmed the Government's backing for the Capital City Report of the Dublin City Taskforce. A roadmap for delivery of the Dublin City Taskforce Report was also published on Tuesday. Mr Martin said an oversight board will be established and chaired by his Department to oversee the delivery of the taskforce report through the 'roadmap for delivery'. Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said the announcement on Tuesday was 'a rehash' of the same announcement that had been made three times already and called for more urgent action. 'The city is in decline, it needs leadership. We thought that this was going to be about (that), it just seems to be a useful press release for you.' At the press conference, Mr Martin said the capital 'does undoubtedly have a lot to offer' and is viewed positively by some people. But Mr Martin acknowledged there have been 'increased concerns about safety, cleanliness, reduced footfall and changing attitudes to shopping and socialising'. He said the redevelopment of the GPO as 'a world-class and historic flagship project' – with a 'significant' cultural element, supported by retail and office parts – was among the recommendations to revitalise Dublin. He said the pledge in the plan to increase the number of gardai in the city centre by 1,000 had already begun. Mr Harris said the plan would reduce vacancy and dereliction and improve public spaces and attract people back into the city. 'I'm pleased also to see that the roadmap seeks to move ahead with landmark projects such as the fruit and vegetable market, Parnell Square cultural quarter (and) the regeneration of housing precincts.' Mr Martin said that a tourism tax will be examined to help fund the 'significant' expenditure needed to make the city more enticing. 'It could provide additional revenue raising powers, so that will be examined. Because, let's be honest, there's going to be significant investment here. 'There's going to be significant additional expenditure to make the city more attractive. 'It will be examined in more detail. Estimates varies between depending on rate of fee applied, it would range from four million to 41 million.' The Tanaiste added: 'There can be significant benefit in a tourist tax if done in the correct way. 'Many, many European capital cities have it, but of course, you want to get the timing right, you want to, obviously consult. 'You want to do the work the Taoiseach has outlined.' He said it would also be about 'empowering' Dublin City Council to decide whether it needed an additional revenue stream. 'The idea that people who visit our city would make a small contribution, they would go back into the city council coffers to help them deliver some of the projects. 'So fundamentally, I believe, massively in local government, empowering councillors and providing revenue streams, there needs to be a sensitivity around the timing.' The report of the Dublin City Taskforce said there are a number of funding mechanisms that could be leveraged to support implementation of its revitalisation plan. 'These include state level supports through funds like the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), European level supports through the European Investment Bank (EIB), public/private partnerships and the introduction or enforcement of levies such as a tourist tax, congestion charges, increased vacant property levies or a lifting of the derogation for rates on State buildings. 'Any decision on fundraising is a matter for government and is outside the remit of the taskforce.'
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Taoiseach confirms delay to publication of Government's new housing plan
The publication of the Government's new housing plan will be delayed by several months, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed. It had been widely briefed that the new successor to the Housing for All plan would be published in July. However, the Government will now wait for the National Development Plan (NDP) to be published first. The Irish Mirror understands that this is likely to be done at the end of July. Asked about the plan, Mr Martin admitted that the new housing plan will be delayed. He said: "It may not be July, because of the NDP. "It makes sense, in terms of the NDP, that we would have the financial allocations for housing in advance of the plan itself. "We're very determined that there's a very clear, precise, transparent medication for housing in the NDP." When asked if September would be more likely, the Taoiseach responded "possibly", but argued that the Government has taken several measures on housing. This is a further setback for the Government's housing track record, with Housing Minister James Browne admitting last week that the Government's self-imposed target of 41,000 new homes in 2025 is "not realistic". The Government missed its housing targets last year. Elsewhere, the Government has also been forced to defend plans that went to Cabinet on student accommodation today. Under plans brought to Cabinet by Higher Education Minister James Lawless, new national design standards for student accommodation will favour twin bedrooms and shared bathrooms over "individual ensuite units." Super Junior Minister Sean Canney stated that the Government was "trying to crunch people in" to student accommodation. He said: "When you have a construction cost that's very high, it's important that you design in a smart way so that you utilise all the spaces that you have for the purposes it is needed for. "I think it's important we understand that. This is not trying to crunch people in or have to share. It's actually providing that variety without compromising on the quality of the building at the same time, reducing cost and giving the student the accommodation." The opposition was critical of the plans, with the Social Democrats' housing spokesman, Rory Hearne, accusing the Government of "tinkering around the edges". He said, "It is not really addressing the fundamental issue, which is the failure of the government to fund the building of student housing."
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Leaving Cert politics and society: Essay section ‘more difficult than previous years'
The Leaving Cert politics & society exam gave students who are up to date with current affairs and went 'above and beyond' in their preparation a good chance to show off their skills, say teachers. However, the essay section of the exam – worth 50 per cent of marks – was more difficult than previous year and posed some real challenges. Emmet McQuillan, a politics & society teacher at Maryfield College, Dublin 9, said overall the paper had 'no surprises', and 'gave students who had done extra learning above and beyond a chance to show that off'. Paul McAndrew, politics & society teacher at The Institute of Education, said that after a 'promising start', many students will likely feel the essay section was a struggle. READ MORE Short questions Students were asked to consider global income inequality, how technology can help solve environmental problems, and language diversity. Mr McQuillan said ordinary level students may have struggled with the short question which asked them to 'explain the effects of racism', which provided four lines for an answer. 'You could write 40 pages' on such a question, he said. Something that may have separated H1 and H2 students were the short questions on key thinkers, which asked students to not only name the theory associated with a key thinker, but to explain the theory too. Ordinary level students were also asked to describe the role of a TD and to consider the new deposit return scheme in Ireland. Mr McAndrew students will be happy with a 'much more balanced array of questions' than in previous years in section A. 'Drawn from all over the course, the questions had a better balance of the specific and the analytic,' he said. 'Last year, questions tended towards a less pointed interaction with the course material, but this year's batch was much more direct in its concern for Hobbes, Locke, the functions of the President etc.' While prepared students will have been happy, he said a sense of concern may have crept in as material appeared that they might have hoped would be reserved for later in the paper. Data question The data questions on both higher and ordinary level papers suited students with strong critical thinking skills, according to Mr McQuillan. Higher level students were asked to evaluate the concerns of Irish voters during the recent EU Parliament election, which Mr McQuillan said suited students who had conducted 'independent, self directed learning'. Students were also asked to critique the methodology of a Red C survey, which put students on the spot as it was 'obviously something you can't learn off'. Mr McAndrew said the data-based questions started with 'a nice selection of tasks that would be familiar to any student'. 'However, part (g) will trip many students up as they needed to balance numerous aspects in a very particular and concise format,' he said. 'To adequately address this task students needed to account for information from the two texts, the practical aspects of citizen participation in democracy and the philosophical idea of the social contract.' When combined with a quote from Reinhold Niebuhr, he said students had five components to synthesise into a very short space. 'For those who had drilled this type of task it would be manageable, but it required a more refined sensibility than other tasks,' he said. Essays A broad range of open-ended essay topics appeared on the higher level paper. Students were asked to assess the role inequality plays in threats to democracy, and to consider if the right to protest is essential in a democracy. Some students may have struggled with the question which asked them to consider the rise of nationalism in society, Mr McQuillan said. 'It was phrased through the lens of Benedict Anserson, so students had to specify that key thinker, so the way that's phrased, it just means you have to be more specific'. Essays on the ordinary level paper also demonstrated an emphasis on current affairs, with students asked to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the Irish electoral system, fast fashion, and the importance of human rights in the context of recent global events. Mr McQuillan said the essays on both papers offered 'a mix of global, national and contemporary issues that students could bring their own life experiences into.' Mr McAndrew said that while higher level students should anticipate challenge in any exam, this section was more difficult than previous years. 'Firstly, students only had six questions to choose from rather than the seven of previous years, thus narrowing their opportunities to show their interests/strengths,' he said. The main challenge of this section was the 'difference between the surface appeal of the question and the deeper need to write in a manner substantive sufficient to earn the full spectrum of marks', Mr McAndrew said. For example, Question 3(b) on the right to protest was a topic on which many politically-minded students would have opinions, but this area is not a large part of the curriculum. 'Thus, there is little assigned material that could be used as evidence to make the discussion more robust,' Mr McAndrew said. 'Something similar happens on question six which starts with a Mandela quote on education's capacity to change the world, yet the question is not on education itself but on Paulo Freire's theory of education,' he said. 'A student could easily begin this essay but would struggle to balance both momentum and evidence effectively over the course of a four-page essay.' Even when a question has a clear connection to the syllabus, such as question four on sustainable development, the seeming openness of the question 'belies a series of potholes and burdens that make them precarious to approach,' Mr McAndrew said. Ultimately, he said many students will move towards question five on misinformation and question seven on nationalism as both sit 'most squarely within the remit of the course material and offer the fewest potential stumbling blocks.'
