The Higher Education Minister says he is working to finalise protocols to ensure student accommodation centres are only used to house students.
Minister Simon Harris was speaking after the family-run Cork Student Village at Victoria Cross in the city announced they would not be open for accommodation for the upcoming academic year.
The 60-apartment complex will be used to house Ukrainian refugees.
Earlier this month it was announced that two apartment complexes in Sligo would not be taking student bookings for September for the same reason.
Minister Simon Harris says his department are in discussions with the Department of Integration:
"I think it's really important that there's a protocol in place. I'm working to finalise that protocol. We have one for nursing homes for example, student accommodation, whether public or private, that is being used for students needs to be used in that regard and my department officials are engaging with the Department of children in relation to that. So I'm conscious that some of these are private contractual matters, but in relation to Sligo, we're making good progress in relation to this matter, in relation to Cork I'm just seeking more information about that currently."
