Simon Harris has said ‘student accommodation must be used for students’ amid ongoing controversy about plans to house Ukrainians in student digs. 

Earlier this month, the owners of Sligo’s Benbulben Court and Milligan Court announced they would be housing Ukrainians instead of students this year. 

Meanwhile, the Irish Examiner revealed today the Cork Student Village planned to do the same. 

As Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris told Newstalk he believed, “Student accommodation that is required for students needs to be used for students.”  

“Much of that accommodation receives planning permission on the basis that it will be used for students,” he said. 

“Colleges right around the country are quite rightly providing thousands of beds to help with the humanitarian crisis for the summer period. 

“But those beds will be given back in time for the academic year."

Minister Harris said it is “really important” that a clear protocol is in place for dealing with issues regarding student and refugee accommodation.

“My Department officials are engaging with the Department for Children in relation to that,” he said. 

“I’m conscious that some of these are private contractual matters but in relation to Sligo, we’re making good progress in relation to this matter. 

“In relation to Cork, I’m just seeking more information about that currently.” 

Five hundred every week

Speaking to The Hard Shoulder on Monday, Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman said there are around 86,000 Ukrainians in Ireland, of whom 66,000 are being provided with State accommodation. 

A further 500 to 600 arrive on average every week. 

Main image: Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris.