Atlantic Technological University has been given approval to purchase land near its Sligo campus that has been earmarked for student accommodation.
The announcement was made by Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless.
Sligo county councillors voted last November to sell a 16-acre site located close to the campus in Ballinode for the purpose of building student accommodation.
ATU President Dr Orla Flynn said the university was delighted to receive ministerial approval to close out the purchase from the council.
"We look forward to seeing this progressing in due course. Our thanks as always to the minister, the HEA (Higher Education Authority) and of course Sligo County Council for all their support to get this over the line.
"Student accommodation, obviously, is our priority for that land. We're really delighted to see it in the Programme for Government.
"Our original plans were probably to look at something like 300 beds and trying to maybe expand that ultimately to maybe 900 beds but that's really a long-term plan.
"We're at the very early stages of the planning. We're trying to work sectorally with officials in the HEA and the Department.
Watch: ATU students react as land purchased for accommodation
Dr Flynn said that student accommodation is a major challenge in the northern and western region.
There is "huge demand" for accommodation across all ATU sites, including Letterkenny, Galway and Mayo, she said.
"If you talk to our student’s union leaders, they'll tell you it’s their number one issue".
ATU has confirmed it will fund the purchase from within their own existing reserves.
Mr Lawless was joined by Minister of State for Further and Higher Education Marian Harkin and local TD Frank Feighan at the ATU Sligo campus.
Mr Lawless said the 16-acre site is of significant strategic importance, allowing the technological university to future proof its higher education provision in the region.
"That [student accommodation] is certainly one of the primary considerations for the site. I don’t want to pre-empt what management may decide.
"The team at ATU will take the site. They can examine whether it will be student accommodation or further educational provision. It’s going to be a key part of the ATU campus.
"I want to thank the [Sligo] councillors who voted it through and the officials that paved the way for a successful procurement".
Ms Harkin added that the purchase of the land bank provides real potential for the development of ATU Campus in Sligo.
ATU was established on 1 April 2022 with the merger of Galway Mayo IT, Sligo IT and Letterkenny IT.
The university incorporates nine campuses across Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal.
It is one of the largest multi-campus universities in the country with a student population of more than over 26,600 students.
Mr Feighan said the announcement is significant given that ATU is the first university north of the Dublin-Galway line.
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President of ATU Sligo Students' Union Julia Bocianowska said they are glad to hear of today’s announcement after "years of advocacy".
"We're really hoping, and we'll continue to advocate for that land to be strictly dedicated to our students and to student accommodation, especially with accommodation [provision] in such a crisis state.
"We are heavily relying on digs for the past few years. Unfortunately, that’s the only a short-term solution we have at present.
Ms Bocianowska said digs are the only thing saving some students from being homeless and from travelling long hours to attend higher education.
Abbie Lacey, from New Ross in Co Wexford, said there "is a lack of accommodation" available in Sligo. Ms Lacey referenced two significant providers who withdrew their services in recent years in Sligo.
Joseph Morris, from Dublin, said the demand for accommodation in Sligo is "increasing each year".
"I am on a waiting list for accommodation for next year. The amount of accommodation available for students isn’t enough".
Stephanie Lackey. from Ballina, Co Mayo, said that annual price increases have affected students.
"My rent went up a couple of hundred euro and everything was the exact same: the same utilities and the same problems.
"I know multiple people who dropped out due to the price [of accommodation] and not being able to continue college because they cannot get accommodation.
"Unless something is physically done about it. The problem won’t be resolved," she added.
