Local Fianna Fáil councillor, Frankie Keena, has called upon his fellow elected representatives and local authority executive to correspond with both the Minister for Public Expenditure and the Minister for Higher Education to immediately finalise the borrowing framework for technological universities to enable TUS - Midlands Midwest (MMW ) build much needed student accommodation.
The councillor raised his motion in the civic chamber during the most recent sitting of Athlone-Moate Municipal District.
"I am looking for support from this District to write to the relevant Ministers allowing technological universities to immediately borrow money on the financial markets in the same manner as traditional universities, for the provision of much needed student accommodation," Cllr Keena asserted.
The councillor is of the view that the current inability of TUS to borrow for student accommodation is both unfair and unsustainable and puts them at a clear disadvantage.
"I am led to believe that the Cassells report which was published years ago is on the desk of the Minister for Higher Education and Skills, one which he is currently contemplating.
"The low level of availability of student accommodation is not just a local issue but also a national issue. I recall attending and supporting a large student protest last year on the TUS MMW campus where strong concerns were made by students about the lack of student accommodation for them.
"At this protest they highlighted the issue of enormous waiting lists for accommodation and soaring rents for students living in private rented accommodation. Some elected to commute, while others are forced to sleep on couches as they are unable to secure accommodation. Urgent action now needs to be taken to support these students.
"Within a 10 minute walk to the TUS campus in Athlone this local authority approved planning permission for approximately 230 student housing units and it is my understanding that TUS MMW is very interested in this development, but as it stands They are prohibited from borrowing to finance same.
"This matter needs to be resolved as soon as possible as apart from providing this much needed student accommodation, it will also have a knock on effect of freeing up properties around Athlone that could be made available for families or professionals, hence addressing our housing shortage.
"I am not just looking for an immediate outcome from the Cassells report, but I am also looking for the erosion of distinct inequities between traditional and technological institutions regarding the provision of student campus accommodation," Cllr Keena concluded.
Responding, a spokesperson for the local authority executive stated that a letter would issue to the relevant Ministers upon unanimous acceptance of the motion within the council chamber.
