The Minister for Further Education Simon Harris is being urged to take a more flexible approach when it comes to pensioners renting a room to students.
Some are concerned that they may lose their medical card if they pass the income threshold when they receive rental payments.
The weekly gross medical card income threshold for those aged 70 and over is currently 550 euro per week for a single person and €1,050 for a couple.
Fine Gael Senator Maria Byrne has called on Minister Harris to make provisions for a rent-a-room scheme so pensioners won't be discouraged from offering a room to students - particularly with the current student housing crisis.
