Mairéad Farrell TD, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, has said she is concerned that the government have run out of time to pass their amending legislation to address the issue of 51-week lease requirements in vulture fund accommodation.

The Taoiseach had previously said that amending legislation would be introduced before the summer to ensure the matter was addressed before the coming academic year.

Teachta Farrell said:

“The Taoiseach told us in February that he would be introducing this legislation asap. He repeated this in March and in April.

“However, with just three weeks left of this Dáil term it appears that many students in vulture fund owned accommodation will be forced to take 51 week leases, even though the academic term is only 39 weeks.

“I had asked the Taoiseach last month why he could not do this through secondary legislation, such a Ministerial order, but he told me that primary legislation was necessary.

“As I said previously, we had many announcements from the Minister, I was be waiting to see action and this to be enshrined in law. It appears that this was more spin from the Taoiseach.

“To make matters worse, we are now seeing this practice of 51-week lease requirements creeping in to University owned accommodation. As I raised with today in the chamber, the University of Limerick is now using this requirement for certain accommodation.

“I argued that if this matter wasn’t addressed then it would be the thin end of the wedge, whereby students would be required to carry additional costs. Whether it be from vulture funds looking to increase their returns, or Universities looking to close financial deficits.”