4,400 family homes could be freed up rooms for students

Nearly 4,400 family homes could be freed up for the rental market by 2020 under proposals by universities to add 10,000 student bed spaces to those already in the pipeline.

However, Department of Finance reservations about some of the tax measures needed to support the developments are among several potential barriers.

The possibility of delivering nearly 13,200 student bed spaces, 10,000 more than those currently under construction or being planned, was put forward by the Irish Universities Association.