Limerick students urge lifting of block on building projects to address accommodation crisis

Students' union said it was 'urging and imploring the Higher Education Authority to lift the current block on capital projects and release funding'.

The accommodation crisis faced by University of Limerick students has been "further exacerbated" by a continued block on its capital projects, according to its students' union, as it urged the authorities to lift the restriction.

Since 2024, UL has faced a pause on its capital development programme after it came to light the university overpaid on 20 houses intended for student accommodation by €5m.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has now confirmed to the Irish Examiner the pause it put in place on several projects following the fallout from the Rhebogue site remains in place and continues to be kept under review.

A number of projects have been "un-paused" on a case-by-case basis, where necessary, to support operations or address emerging strategic requirements, a spokesperson for the HEA said.

However, a €16m student accommodation proposal under consideration in 2024, prior to the governance issues arising, did not receive funding approval and did not proceed, the HEA confirmed.

Documents released by the HEA under the Freedom of Information Act show last December, UL Student Life wrote to the HEA requesting the Section 64 block on capital projects be lifted.

UL Student Life is "inundated every week with cases of students who have been unable to find suitable accommodation, who have been evicted without notice, or who are living in unsafe and exploitative conditions", the letter said.

"Many students are also facing health issues caused by mould and poor housing standards."

These are not isolated incidents, but a persistent and growing crisis affecting the safety, wellbeing, and academic success of our student body.

The only sustainable way to guarantee secure accommodation for students is through purpose-built student accommodation, it added.

The union said it was "urging and imploring the HEA to lift the current block on capital projects and release funding".

"Doing so would allow progress on essential developments and provide future students with security and reassurance regarding accommodation."

Should this be lifted, UL has "80 rooms almost secured for students, which is an immediate relief for 80 students to avail of, so this is a matter of urgency."

In 2016, UL purchased the top floors of the Park Point complex on the Dublin Road close to its campus for €4.1m.

In 2024, it was granted planning permission to convert this into a student accommodation block.

A spokesman for the University of Limerick said it was "conscious of the shortage of student accommodation" and was reviewing solutions to increase the supply of accommodation.

UL is currently developing its strategic plan and is consulting with all stakeholders to inform the plan for the further development of the university.

UL expects to launch its new strategic plan later this year, he added.

As previously reported, UL commissioned an emergency investigation into the finances of its student union after UL Student Life sought to extend a mandatory levy paid by students.

In April 2025, UL Student Life asked the university if the student levy, collected to fund a new €34m student centre, could be extended by six months.

A Student Life spokesperson said the extension would not have increased the amount paid by students and that the union has “implemented over 50%” of the recommendations made by the internal audit.