How bizarre: Minister flummoxed as student apartments remain idle
As hundreds of third level students in Sligo remain unable to avail of purpose-built student accommodation in Sligo, the Minister for Further Education Simon Harris has described the situation as “bizarre”. Purpose-built student apartments at Milligan Court and Benbulben Court are to be offered to the private rental market rather than to students.
Speaking on Monday when he visited Sligo Minister Harris said that while he didn’t wish to say anything to cut across conversations that the Atlantic Technological University may be having with the developer, a private operator, he was struggling with the fact that “you have a situation where in the middle of a housing crisis you have several hundred students who could be accommodated in Sligo and that currently isn’t the case”. He told Ocean FM he respected that the accommodation blocks at Milligan Court and Benbulben Court were privately owned adding: “There was talk of the accommodation being used to house refugees, but I have a very clear view that student accommodation must be used for students during college time.
“It is really regrettable that accommodation lies idle today with students not being able to occupy it. “Surely it makes sense that accommodation that was built for the purpose of accommodating students should be made available to them. I’m hoping common sense prevails. I would really encourage everyone involved to ensure that it does. Do the right thing here now.
“It is absolutely clear now this accommodation will not be used for refugee accommodation so in my view it makes sense it is returned to its original that it was built for - student accommodation,” he added.