• The Council has been launched as the thought-leader for Irish PBSA, driving debate on supply and regulatory reform, with an objective to improve the lives of students.
• Founding members account for more than 70% of current PBSA stock in Ireland and the majority of planned pipeline.
• The Council brings together stakeholders from across the private and public sector, including investors, operators, universities and advisers.

The PBSA Council of Ireland, a new national representative body for the student housing sector, will officially launch today in Dublin. The Council brings together leading investors, developers, operators, university accommodation managers and advisers, policymakers, researchers, and economists to champion the delivery of high-quality, sustainable, and affordable Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) across Ireland.

The Council’s mission is to provide a unified voice for a sector that plays a vital role in supporting Ireland’s higher education system, relieving pressure on the wider housing market, and strengthening the country’s global competitiveness as an education hub.

The Council is committed to evidence-led research, policy dialogue, and media engagement, advancing the debate on housing supply, identifying the actions that can unlock new delivery, and enhancing the lives of students overall.

Council members, and those they represent, currently account for more than 70% of PBSA stock in Ireland as well as the majority of planned development pipeline, giving the group unique reach and authority in shaping the sector’s future.

A timely response to mounting challenges

Ireland has more than 260,000 students in higher education, including over 40,000 international students, yet demand for purpose-built housing continues to far exceed supply. Recent “think-in” discussions convened by the Council drew more than 200 registrations from policymakers, civil servants, industry participants, and advisors – one of the best-attended PBSA forums ever held in Ireland – underscoring the appetite and urgent need for coordinated advocacy and clear policy engagement.

Collaboration and leadership

John Jacobs, GSA, commented:
“Ireland’s higher education sector depends on a strong, resilient, and sustainable PBSA market. The Council has been created to ensure the sector has a clear and authoritative voice in policy, planning, and media debate. By bringing together the majority of the market’s stakeholders, we are uniquely placed to work with government, universities, and communities to improve supply and deliver better outcomes for students.”

Ciaran McIntyre, Elkstone, commented:
“International capital has consistently recognised the strength of Ireland’s student housing fundamentals, but to sustain investment at scale we need a policy environment that gives certainty and confidence. The PBSA Council provides an important platform to ensure that Ireland can attract the global capital required to deliver the volume and quality of accommodation students deserve, while also supporting affordability and balance in the wider housing market.”

Niamh O’Connor, Summix, commented:
“Developers are ready to deliver high-quality, sustainable accommodation that meets the diverse needs of students. What we require is a planning and regulatory framework that enables viability. By bringing together the sector’s stakeholders, the PBSA Council gives us a unified voice to work with government and communities so that projects can move from blueprint to reality more quickly, easing pressure on families and the private rental sector.”

Founding Committee members:

Aaron Bailey (GSA), John Jacobs (GSA), Colm Lauder (Lauder Teacher), Ciaran McIntyre (Elkstone), Paul Mitchell (Mitchell McDermott), Niamh O’Connor (Summix), Jean O’Neill (RCSI), Shane Scully (Eagle Street)

About the PBSA Council of Ireland:

​​​​​​​The PBSA Council of Ireland is the national representative body for Purpose-Built Student Accommodation. It brings together investors, developers, operators, universities, accommodation managers, advisers, policymakers, researchers, and economists to advance the delivery of safe, sustainable, and affordable student housing.

The Council promotes evidence-based policymaking, champions sector-wide standards and engages in constructive partnership with government and communities. By positioning itself as the thought-leader for Ireland’s PBSA sector, the Council seeks to ensure that student housing contributes not only to improved supply, but also to better educational outcomes and the well-being of students across the country.