€430m accommodation fund to bring cheaper rents for students

Minister Simon Harris said that where projects are funded, there will be an expectation that rental prices are kept somewhat affordable or that units are made available at below-market rents. File picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

A new European-backed fund to build student accommodation will lead to cheaper rents for students, the Higher Education Minister has said.

The €434 million fund includes €200 million made available to third-level institutions by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and €200 million from the Housing Finance Agency.