The Minister for Further and Higher Education has said he will write to DCU about an increase in service charges at its student accommodation, calling it a rent hike and unacceptable.
Speaking on his way into Cabinet, James Lawless said that it might be "within the letter of the law, but I don't think it's in the spirit of the law.
"These are publicly funded institutions. We have a student accommodation challenge, and I'm trying to increase that (accommodation) around the country through a number of measures, and I'm not pleased to see that. I call this hiking up rents in that way, I'll be using a loophole. I will be writing to the institution concerned, asking them to reverse that decision."
The minister also said he is seeking measures on fees, student accommodation and resources for the third level sector, but he cannot give people any certainty until budget day.
Mr Lawless added that he was involved in intense discussions with Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe.
"Tomorrow morning, I'm in the (Department of) Public Expenditure next door to us having another round of intense engagements and negotiations.
"I'm seeking the biggest possible budget package for students, for higher education, and when, I suppose, when those negotiations are closed, I will know what's available to me, and then I know what I can distribute around the system. But I'm acutely aware, I've met student unions."
He said there were multiple Government commitments: "Commitment includes reducing the student contribution fee. It includes increasing SUSI grants. Includes increasing thresholds. It includes more student supports, including around the cost of accommodation."
The President of Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLE) welcomed Minister Lawless asking DCU to reverse the accommodation service charge increase.
Bryan O'Mahony said: "I'm very happy he is going to write to them, it's been a longstanding issue, especially private-built student accommodation, they raise the service charge in order to get around the rent pressure zones.
"It's a longstanding issue and it's something that needs to be addressed now."
Meanwhile, an Oireachtas committee will hear today that the student accommodation "crisis" is quickly becoming the "single greatest barrier" to third-level students accessing and completing higher education.
Mr O'Mahony will tell politicians at the Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education this afternoon that students in Ireland are facing a "critical shortage" in publicly-funded, purpose-built student accommodation.
This is hurting access to education, damaging student wellbeing, destroying the student experience and undermining Ireland's future talent pipeline, he will say.
AMLE is the national representative body for students in Ireland and represents over 300,000 students across the island.
Mr O’Mahony will say that the cost of accommodation for students has become unsustainable, with many turning to "insecure or unsuitable arrangements".
This has led to some students reverting to couch surfing with friends or staying in hostels for weeks at the beginning of term.
Some students rely on "unregulated digs" or the rent-a-room scheme in order to secure a place to live during the term, while others commute up to four hours to and from campus everyday, Mr O’Mahony will say.
Mr O’Mahony will say international students are "particularly vulnerable", highlighting the case of 18 international students whom this past weekend were all found to be living in a 2-bedroom house in Co Limerick.
He will tell politicians: "International students are frequently asked to pay several months’ rent in advance or are forced into unsuitable or exploitative arrangements.
"That much was evidenced only this weekend, where 18 international students were found to be living in a 2-bedroom house in Limerick, having been misled by the landlord.
"That is what comes of abandoning students to the private rental market."
"This not only harms individual students but also damages Ireland’s international reputation as a welcoming destination for higher education," he will add.
Mr O’Mahony will call for significant public investment in student accommodation, for affordability to be addressed by the introduction of rent caps for purpose-built student accommodation and for more supports for international students to prevent exploitation.
Oireachtas committee hearings will resume today in line with the Dáil returning from its summer recess.
