DCU wrote off €4.38m spent on professional fees for proposed student accommodation 

DCU said due to construction inflation 'the project is awaiting a funding solution that can deliver affordable accommodation for students'.

Dublin City University (DCU) wrote off €4.38m incurred on professional fees for a proposed student accommodation following a decision not to proceed with the development.

The detail is included in the university's financial statements for 2025. 

Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy noted the university wrote off the expenditure of €4.38m, including VAT, incurred on professional fees for a proposed project to construct a new student accommodation building. 

In a note on the statements, DCU said due to construction inflation "the project is awaiting a funding solution that can deliver affordable accommodation for students".

"The provision may be reversible in a future financial year, should the project proceed to delivery," it added. 

"The university continues to work with all stakeholders in seeking to increase the supply of affordable purpose-built accommodation for students, with planning permission in place for developments at the university's Glasnevin campus until 2029. 

"In May 2026, the university provided projects with planning permission for 1,235 beds to the Higher Education Institutions Student Accommodation Programme, under the recently launched department’s “National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026-2035." 

Separately, University College Dublin (UCD) paid Revenue almost €950,000 this year. It followed a voluntary disclosure by the university to the Revenue Commissioners in June in relation to "employment-related taxes arising on benefits-in-kind payments and in relation to the employment status of individuals".

In 2026, UCD paid the Revenue Commissioners €943,000 for liabilities identified for the years 2022 to 2026. This included underpaid tax totaling €934,600, related interest of €189,600, and penalties of €31,900 less professional services withholding tax of €213,100. Recovery of the taxes is not currently being pursued by the university, C&AG Mr McCarthy noted in UCD's most recent financial statements. 

In October 2025, UCD received a request from the Revenue Commissioners for a review to be undertaken of chargeable excess tax and excess lump-sum taxes applied on pension schemes, Mr McCarthy noted. 

"In June 2026, the university paid the Revenue Commissioners €381,000 in respect of liabilities identified in the years 2022 to 2025. This comprised tax underpaid totalling €315,900 and related interest of €64,900. Recovery of these amounts is currently in progress by the university," he added. 

UCD also spent €1.48m through 16 suppliers that was not procured in accordance with public procurement regulations, the financial statements note.