Concerns over student accommodation as 2,500 beds used for refugees may drive up rents

The Hubble student accommodation building in Dublin accommodated 345 international protection applicants. Picture: Leon Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

Officials feared students would be faced with “significantly increased rents” if more than 2,500 student accommodation beds used to house those seeking international protection here were not returned to market.

Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act to the Irish Examiner show 2,538 student beds were under contract with the Department of Integration as of last August.