The Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government has been called to introduce legislation to prevent developers converting student accommodation into tourist accommodation.

Labour Housing Spokesperson, Senator Rebecca Moynihan made the call after an application was made to Dublin City Council for a change of use of a luxury student accommodation development, the Tannery in Dublin.

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Senator Moynihan said: "We need stronger planning guidelines on student accommodation to stop developers attempting to turn purpose-built student accommodation into apartments for tourists. There are several luxury student accommodation builds across inner city Dublin and we cannot allow developers to convert them into tourist apartments at a whim.

"The Minister needs to take action and prevent more developers from attempting to do this especially in light of the likely lack of international students due to Covid-19.

"I am calling on the Minister to step in immediately and offer stronger guidelines to local authorities and An Bord Pleanála to avoid purpose build student accommodation being converted into tourist accommodation."