TU Dublin welcomes launch of student accommodation Expression of Interest process
TU Dublin has welcomed the launch of a new Expression of Interest (EOI) process to support the delivery of thousands of additional student accommodation beds across Ireland, including potential new on-campus accommodation at its Grangegorman campus.
Announced by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, the initiative forms part of the Higher Education Institutions Student Accommodation Programme (HSAP), a key element of the National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026–2035.
The programme could deliver up to 3,300 new on-campus beds in this phase, alongside additional off-campus accommodation. The on-campus EOI includes four locations: TU Dublin's Grangegorman Campus, Munster Technological University in Cork, Atlantic Technological University in Galway, and Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology. A separate EOI covers potential off-campus developments near higher education institutions in Dublin, Cork and Galway.
For TU Dublin, including Grangegorman offers an important opportunity to explore additional student accommodation in a location closely connected to the University's academic and student life.
Sally Anne Sherry, Director of People and Operations at TU Dublin and member of the Higher Education Institutions Student Accommodation Programme Board, said:
“We welcome the launch of this Expression of Interest process and the opportunity it provides to explore potential approaches to increasing the supply of student accommodation at Grangegorman and across the wider higher education sector.
“As these proposals progress, it will be particularly important to ensure that affordability remains central to the development of new accommodation. Students need access to housing that is affordable and suitable for their needs, enabling them to participate fully in university life and pursue their studies to their greatest potential. Increasing supply is an important part of addressing the accommodation challenge, but the cost of that accommodation must also be a key consideration.”
The EOI process will help assess the market's appetite for development, identify potential delivery and funding models, and examine the viability of the proposed sites. It will also explore opportunities to deliver accommodation at or below market rent, ensuring affordability is considered in future plans.
Responses to the EOI process are due by 27 November 2026, with further phases of the national programme covering additional locations expected in the coming months.