Sligo County Councillors have voted to sell 16 acres of land to Atlantic Technological University (ATU) for the purpose of building of student accommodation in Co Sligo.
Before this morning's council meeting, students protested over the student accommodation crisis in Sligo.
Hundreds of students in Sligo have been left without accommodation in the recent past after two privately-owned accommodation units that traditionally housed 500 students were repurposed to accommodate international protection applicants.
ATU Student’s Union Vice President for Wellbeing & Engagement Emil Kindl said it was "totally ridiculous" that students were left in a situation where 500 student bed spaces were removed "overnight".
Chris Stewart from the Union of Students in Ireland said that approximately 60% of students at ATU Sligo are commuting there, adding that "that's not what this campus was intended to be and that's not what the Sligo community sought".
Kaya Kellegher who is an ATU student is renting in Ballina, Co Mayo, makes a four hour round journey on the bus every day.
Bridget Breslin from Ardara travels daily from southwest Donegal to ATU Sligo.
She said she could not find accommodation and is dependent on public transport and lifts.
Alex O’Donnell said he found accommodation in Ballasodare after three months of searching.
He added that traffic and challenges with bus times meant he has missed morning lectures.
Chief Executive of Sligo County Council Martin Lydon said the council will now inform ATU that the members have agreed the sale of 16 acres of land.
He said: "They [ATU] then will apply to the Higher Education Authority, who, in turn, then hopefully will give them approval to purchase the lands and then start student accommodation."
The land which will be sold subject to Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001 is located at Ardaghowen near ATU Sligo campus on the outskirts of Sligo town.
Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Cllr Declan Bree said: "It's very clear that we cannot depend on the private sector, the private for-profit sector, to provide student accommodation in this country.
"It remains for the State to do so, and Sligo County Council certainly is playing its part."
A spokesperson for the Department of Higher and Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science said: "ATU are currently engaging with them and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on the Technological Feasibility Study."
The spokesperson said the objective of the study is to establish an accurate account of available student accommodation supply; project future supply and demand and to ascertain what opportunities are available to meet future demand.
They added that ATU have made an initial submission to increase supply of student accommodation using the Ardaghowen site which is currently being reviewed and progressed by the HEA.
The spokesperson said safeguards will be required to "ensure that the projects would not adversely impact the resources or financial position of the Technological Universities, or wider public finances".
Final detailed business cases for each proposal are due to be submitted to the Department of Further and Higher Education by next summer, the spokesperson concluded.
During her address at a conferring ceremony campus last week, President of ATU, Dr Orla Flynn called for the lifting of current constraints on ATU and the technological university (TU) sector.
Dr Flynn said: "We need to be able to access funds to deliver essential facilities for our students and staff, and we need to be able to develop affordable student accommodation."
