--- title: Refunds on student accommodation must be given – O’Brien description: Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government, Darragh O’Brien has called on third level universities and institutions to offer partial… --- [ Join ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/join-fianna-fail) [ Donate Now ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/donate-now) Search website: ** Search # Refunds on student accommodation must be given – O’Brien Published on: 26 March 2020 Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government, Darragh O’Brien has called on third level universities and institutions to offer partial refunds for accommodation to students. Most students across the country have vacated their on-campus accommodation and returned home amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Deputy O’Brien said: “So far, some Universities have offered refunds to students but not all have done so, and I am calling on the rest to do the right thing here and refund students their money. “I have submitted an amendment under the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest COVID-19 Bill 2020. It outlines how all relevant payments for accommodation provided under section 13(d) of the Planning and Development Housing and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 shall be refunded within three months for the relevant period if the accommodation has been vacated by the licensee due to the suspension of Higher education activity due to Covid-19.” “This amendment places a statutory obligation on student accommodation provers to refund rent for this term of third level due to Covid-19 closures. Students should not have to pay for a service they do not get. “I have been contacted by students who have left their accommodation as a result of the COVID-19 crisis which forced the closure of college campuses across the country. Only some Universities and institutions have been offering the partial refunds. In private rented accommodation landlords are refusing to offer students. “Providers who are holding on to prepaid rents need to do the right thing here,” concluded Deputy O’Brien. Tags: [Latest News](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/tag/latest-news) , [Darragh O'Brien TD](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/tag/darragh-obrien-td) , [Education](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/tag/education) , [Housing](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/tag/housing) --- ## **Related news:** [![Minister Thomas Byrne on the Northern Ireland Protocol at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on EU Affairs](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Members_Titles9.jpg)](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/minister-thomas-byrne-on-the-northern-ireland-protocol-at-the-oireachtas-joint-committee-on-eu-affairs) April 26, 2021 --- ##### [Minister Thomas Byrne on the Northern Ireland Protocol at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on EU Affairs](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/minister-thomas-byrne-on-the-northern-ireland-protocol-at-the-oireachtas-joint-committee-on-eu-affairs) [![](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/fianna-theme/icons/arrow-next.svg) ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/minister-thomas-byrne-on-the-northern-ireland-protocol-at-the-oireachtas-joint-committee-on-eu-affairs) [![Consideration must be given to move the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics from Beijing – Byrne ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Malcolm_Byrne_FF_Wexford.jpg)](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/consideration-must-be-given-to-move-the-2022-winter-olympics-and-paralympics-from-beijing-byrne) April 26, 2021 --- ##### [Consideration must be given to move the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics from Beijing – Byrne ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/consideration-must-be-given-to-move-the-2022-winter-olympics-and-paralympics-from-beijing-byrne) [![](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/fianna-theme/icons/arrow-next.svg) ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/consideration-must-be-given-to-move-the-2022-winter-olympics-and-paralympics-from-beijing-byrne) [![Byrne condemns visit by Clare Daly and Mick Wallace to headquarters of a militia network in Iraq  ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Malcolm_Byrne_FF_Wexford-1.jpg)](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/byrne-condemns-visit-by-clare-daly-and-mick-wallace-to-headquarters-of-a-militia-network-in-iraq) April 26, 2021 --- ##### [Byrne condemns visit by Clare Daly and Mick Wallace to headquarters of a militia network in Iraq  ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/byrne-condemns-visit-by-clare-daly-and-mick-wallace-to-headquarters-of-a-militia-network-in-iraq) [![](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/fianna-theme/icons/arrow-next.svg) ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/byrne-condemns-visit-by-clare-daly-and-mick-wallace-to-headquarters-of-a-militia-network-in-iraq) [![Minister Byrne acknowledges the challenges faced, but also the progress made, one month post the Brexit transition and one year post the British exit from the EU ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Thomas_Byrne_FF_MeathEast.jpg)](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/minister-byrne-acknowledges-the-challenges-faced-but-also-the-progress-made-one-month-post-the-brexit-transition-and-one-year-post-the-british-exit-from-the-eu) April 26, 2021 --- ##### [Minister Byrne acknowledges the challenges faced, but also the progress made, one month post the Brexit transition and one year post the British exit from the EU ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/minister-byrne-acknowledges-the-challenges-faced-but-also-the-progress-made-one-month-post-the-brexit-transition-and-one-year-post-the-british-exit-from-the-eu) [![](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/fianna-theme/icons/arrow-next.svg) ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/minister-byrne-acknowledges-the-challenges-faced-but-also-the-progress-made-one-month-post-the-brexit-transition-and-one-year-post-the-british-exit-from-the-eu)