Higher Education Minister James Lawless Says En-Suite Student Rooms Seems “Quite Wasteful”

He also claimed that phone and social media use, combined with highly individualised living spaces, can limit opportunities for students to mix, socialise and build friendships.

Individual en-suite bathrooms in student accommodation may be inefficient, according to Kildare North TD and Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless, as Government policy moves towards more shared facilities.

The Minister said new building standards for student accommodation are designed to increase the number of beds within the same floor space, even if that means fewer private bathrooms.

Speaking to Kfm News, Deputy Lawless said a revised student accommodation strategy is close to publication and is expected early this year.

He says the focus will be on maximising capacity through shared kitchens, lounges and, in some cases, shared bathrooms and bedrooms.

The Minister says building large numbers of single-bed, en-suite units has reduced the overall number of student beds delivered.

He said shared accommodation is standard for students internationally and reflects typical housing arrangements, where most homes do not have en-suite bathrooms in every bedroom.

He argued that students consistently highlight availability and affordability as their main concerns, rather than private bathrooms, and warns that over-specification in past developments has limited supply.

He said said that instead of building 10 mini-apartments, each with one bed and one en-suite, the same space could be used to accommodate around 20 students - comments he also made in an interview with the Irish Times. 

Deputy Lawless said the approach is focused on increasing supply and includes more communal living space, but stressed students would not be required to share bedrooms.

He argued that the design of student accommodation must also take account of student wellbeing and social interaction.

He claimed that there is concern that accommodation models based heavily on single en-suite rooms and self-contained units are contributing to student isolation.

He also claimed that phone and social media use, combined with highly individualised living spaces, can limit opportunities for students to mix, socialise and build friendships.

He also said he is seeking new protections to prevent student rents being reset every year under upcoming rent pressure zone changes.

He said reforms introduced last year by Housing Minister James Browne are due to take effect in March and will allow rents to be reset to market rates whenever a tenant leaves.

He said that system may work in the private rental market, where tenants often stay for several years, but argues it is unfair for students, who typically vacate accommodation every summer.

He said that would leave students exposed to annual rent hikes.

He said he wants to introduce a minimum three-year moratorium between rent increases in purpose-built student accommodation.

He explained that the measure would reflect the seasonal nature of student tenancies and provide greater certainty on costs.

He confirmed that discussions are ongoing with Minister Browne and other Ministers, with a decision expected within the next few weeks..

His comments come as pressure continues on student accommodation, with high rents and limited availability affecting students’ ability to secure housing.