Plan to build 28,000 beds for students

A PROJECT to build 28,000 bed spaces for students by 2024 was launched yesterday.

Higher Education Minister Mary Mitchell O’connor said parents and undergraduates have been hit by housing shortages.

She added: “In light of this it is heartening to see there is a healthy pipeline of accommodation projects in train.”

A report on the National Student Accommodation Strategy said 2,990 bed spaces have been built with 7,257 under way.

Ms Mitchell O’connor said: “In the short term, I would encourage people to consider renting a spare room to a college student.”