The Union of Students in Ireland

Lobbying Organisation The Union of Students in Ireland

Date published 20 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details National Student Accommodation Strategy

Intended results To reverse Government policy in re. student accommodation, with an eye to promoting public investment into State-owned student specific accommodation

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Daniel Walsh

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

Met with Minister James Lawless on two occasions, and highlighted the need for state investment into purpose built student accommodation

Letter (1)

Published an open letter calling for the National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026-35 to be scrapped, and redrafted to include a greater focus on State investment into student-specific accommodation

Email (2-5)

Emailed Higher Education spokesperson from a number of parties, and asked them to submit questions with regard to the content, drafting, and publication of the Student Accommodation Strategy

Meeting (1)

Met with Fine Gael Higher Education spokesperson and highlighted the need for state investment into purpose built student accommodation

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Laura Harmon Senator (Seanad)

Donna McGettigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jen Cummins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Lawless Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Maeve O'Connell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)