The leader of Dublin City Council, Owen Keegan has come under fire over recent comments on the ongoing student accommodation crisis.

Responding to a letter from UCD on the nationwide issue, Mr Keegan replied: "If you genuinely believe that excess profits are being made in the PBSA market I am surprised the students' union has not entered the market itself and provided lower-cost student accommodation for its members."

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has hit out at the Council chief for his "dismissive and sarcastic" comments.

Labour representative Senator Rebecca Moynihan also hit out at Mr Keegan, claiming his comments exemplify "the attitude of DCC to the planning crisis in the City".

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"Stories shared by students over the past number of weeks are really harrowing and demand serious attention from those who hold power in the city rather than snide dismissals of their concerns," said Senator Moynihan. "I was really moved by the many student reps protesting outside Leinster House a number of weeks ago. Without somewhere safe and secure to live, our students cannot thrive. Students are not second class citizens.

"Mr Keegan's comments just show how out of touch with reality he is, preferring to dance to the tune of developers by granting them change of uses rather than affect change for our students who are desperately trying to find somewhere to live.

"Rather than encouraging student unions to add to the huge profiteering at the heart of the student accommodation crisis, I would invite Mr Keegan to read Labour's Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 which would stop developers using loop-holes in the planning legislation to convert purpose-built student accommodation into apartments for tourists.

"What message does it sent about Ireland Inc when the many students that come to our cities are paying through the teeth for somewhere to live or are living in cars or are commuting great distances? This developer led attitude is an insult to us all."