Shortage of at least 38,900 student bedspaces across Dublin and the three regional centres of Cork, Galway and Limerick at the end of 2025
Sherry FitzGerald, Ireland’s largest estate agent, reported today (Tuesday, February 17th, 2026) that the limited development of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in recent years has led to a deficit of at least 38,900 bed spaces in Dublin and the three regional centres of Cork, Limerick and Galway at the end of 2025. This shortfall increases to 53,000 if we assume a shorter commutable distance for students attending third level in Dublin.
