New residences unveiled at UCD

UCD’s Belfield campus has seen the official opening of an additional 354 residences at its newly built Ashfield student accommodation.

This brings the total number of residences at the Southside university to 3,164. 

UCD, Ireland’s largest university, also unveiled its ambitious Campus Development Plan.  Among the planned developments are an additional 3,000 student residences, bringing the on-campus population to over 6,000 or over 24 per cent of the total UCD student population.

There is a critical undersupply of student accommodation in Dublin.

For over 80,000 third level students, there are less than 10,000 purpose-built student bed spaces both on and off university campuses.  The 2015 ‘Report on Student Accommodation: Demand & Supply’ by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) estimates an existing level of unmet demand of about 25,000 student bed spaces nationally.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Simon Coveney, and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal, Damien English attended theunveiling of the new residences last week.

Minister Bruton said: “My department is working with stakeholders to prioritise and progress viable projects to provide additional student accommodation in key urban areas.

“This will be done with a view to bringing on stream proposals capable of delivering an additional 7,000 student accommodation places by the end of 2019, on or off campus, in addition to projects already committed to.

“Housing for students is a specific and important segment of the overall housing sector as outlined in the Government’s Action Plan for Housing. Under the Action Plan for Housing, my department will prepare and publish a national student accommodation strategy, which will set out a broad framework for delivery of an enhanced level of student accommodation in the country.”

Minister Bruton added:  “I am delighted to be here in UCD today to mark the opening of over 350 new on-campus student accommodation places.

“I would like to congratulate UCD on the development of these new student residences.”

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Simon Coveney said: “If we can get students out of private rental accommodation and into purpose-built residences, we will free up considerable space for people competing for limited rental properties.” 

Minister Coveney outlined legislation he is bringing to the Oireachtas to facilitate projects that will expedite the planning processes by fast tracking planning directly to An Bord Pleanala. 

“This is a no-brainer as far as I am concerned,” he added. “The Government’s Action Plan contains specific commitments that will be critical enablers of delivery of purpose built accommodation, such as the additional 3,000 here at Belfield.”

According to UCD President, Prof Andrew Deeks, demand for student accommodation in Dublin continues to outstrip supply.

“As part of our overall university strategic plan, we want to develop world-class facilities to ensure we continue to attract the highest calibre of both students and staff,” he said.

“I am delighted that UCD can assuage the concerns of parents of first year and overseas students by offering purpose-built student residences.”

Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Damien English, welcomed the opening of the new residences for students.  “By poviding on-campus residence lets first time students settle into university as well as removing anxiety for worried parents.