Government ban on student accommodation providers from enforcing 51 week leases

Local Carlow TD, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, has welcomed the introduction of emergency legislation aimed at stopping student accommodation providers from forcing students to pay for housing during the summer period.

The legislation bans accommodation providers from only providing 51-week leases to students.

Deputy Murnane O'Connor said that the legislation, which has been signed into law, was expedited by her party colleague, Minister Darragh O'Brien, due to a recent increase in student accommodation providers only offering 51-week leases for students.

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She said: "I want to thank the efforts made by my party colleague, Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien, for expediting this legislation so that it has come into effect in time for the new academic year starting this September.

"This ban on students being forced to pay for 51-week leases for student accommodation is necessary because providers have increasingly been forcing students to pay for housing during the summer. This creates unnecessary hardship and additional costs for students and their families.

"Fianna Fáil in government is committed to removing barriers to education wherever possible and will continue to tackle issues with student accommodation and housing through our Housing for All plan."