Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D. has today officially opened Baile na Breacóige - Dunlin Village – the new student residences at University of Galway. Dunlin was built at a cost of €95million and the construction is financed through University borrowing. It was completed in time to welcome students for the current academic year. The project represents the second of two new purpose-built, on-campus student residences at University of Galway, following the opening of Baile an Chíorbhuí – Goldcrest Village in 2018. Minister Harris said: “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh and the University of Galway on delivering this significant development and supply of student accommodation at Dunlin Village. It is worth recognising that the University has delivered this flagship project at a time when the constraints on development are impacting supply across the country. This bring over 1,100 additional beds provided by the University in Galway since 2018. “The Government is committed to addressing the growing demand for, and supply of, student accommodation for our students. That is why for the first time I am developing a long term policy on state supported student accommodation responses. It is critical that we can pave the way for students and ease the pressures they are facing in attending higher education.” President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán ó hÓgartaigh, said: “Baile na Breacóige - Dunlin Village represents the second major student accommodation project that our University has completed in recent years. Deeply conscious of the stresses and pressures facing young people and their families when it comes to accommodation, this has been a purposefully significant undertaking and investment in the face of unprecedented demand for housing in our community. Enormous credit is due to all those involved, from the design, to the build, to the operations. It is this collective effort and support, by, and for, our university community that ensured it is open for our students this academic year. The cost of building new accommodation is increasingly prohibitive for us, and for our students, and it needs new ways of thinking, and Government support. We hope our provision of almost 2,000 beds makes a difference and we continue to support all policies, investments and endeavours to respond to those who need it the most. We also look forward to working with our students and Government to provide further, more affordable accommodation choices for our students.” University of Galway has 1,867 beds for on-campus student accommodation. Ahead of the opening of Dunlin Village, rent rates were reduced for more than a quarter of the total and frozen on another 669 beds for the fourth year in a row.  Dunlin Village  Designed by award winning Coady Architects and the construction is being carried out by Galway-based contracting firm J.J. Rhatigan & Co. The University is engaging with the Housing Finance Agency in relation to the finance for the project.  The project on the north campus of the University is made up of four distinct buildings with 674 bedrooms in various apartment designs and communal facilities, including meeting rooms and student social and collaboration zones; high quality and capacity wifi; a large communal reception; a 24-hour reception and security, on-location bicycle storage. It also includes 35 accessible bedrooms, located across all four blocks, designed in line with best practice for people with disabilities. Block A is eight stories, consisting of 124 bedrooms in 23 apartments, running parallel to the River Corrib with views from upper floors over the river, the city and Galway Bay.  Blocks B/C/D, comprising 550 en-suite bedrooms, are positioned in separate u shaped layouts to maximise natural daylight throughout, some apartments enjoy triple aspect.   Characterised by a modern, bright interior design featuring quality fixed bedroom furniture, bathrooms and fitted kitchens, the accommodation offers students a state-of-the-art living environment. Ends

D’oscail an tAire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta, Simon Harris T.D., Baile na Breacóige, na hárais chónaithe nua do mhic léinn in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, go hoifigiúil inniu. Costas €95 milliún a bhí i gceist le Baile na Breacóige, agus rinneadh an tógáil a mhaoiniú trí iasachtaí Ollscoile. Críochnaíodh in am é chun freastal ar mhic léinn na bliana acadúla reatha. Is é an tionscadal seo an dara ceann de dhá áras cónaithe a tógadh go sainiúil do mhic léinn ar champas Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Osclaíodh an chéad cheann, Baile an Chíorbhuí, in 2018. Seo mar a labhair an tAire Harris: “Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a thapú le comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Ollamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh agus le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe as an bhforbairt shuntasach a thabhairt chun críche agus an lóistín seo a chur ar fáil do mhic léinn i mBaile na Breacóige. Is fiú a aithint go bhfuil an mórthionscadal seo curtha i gcrích ag an Ollscoil ag tréimhse a bhfuil na srianta forbartha ag cur isteach ar sholáthar ar fud na tíre. Tá breis agus 1,100 leaba breise curtha ar fáil ag an Ollscoil i nGaillimh ó 2018 i leith. “Tá an Rialtas meáite ar aghaidh a thabhairt ar an méadú atá ar éileamh do lóistín dár gcuid mac léinn. Is dá bharr seo a bhfuilim ag forbairt polasaí fadtréimhseach, den chéad uair, maidir le tacaíocht stáit a chur ar fáil le dul i ngleic le fadhb lóistín na mac léinn. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go mbeimid in ann an bealach a réiteach do mhic léinn agus an brú atá orthu freastal ar an ardoideachas a mhaolú.” Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: Is é Baile na Breacóige an dara mórthionscadal lóistín do mhic léinn atá tugtha chun críche ag an Ollscoil le blianta beaga anuas. Táimid an-fheasach ar an strus agus an brú atá ar dhaoine óga agus ar a dtuismitheoirí agus iad ag iarraidh lóistín a aimsiú. Is forbairt agus infheistíocht shuntasach sainchuspóra í seo ar tugadh fúithi chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar an éileamh ollmhór do thithíocht sa phobal. Tá moladh mór tuillte acu siúd ar fad a bhfuil baint acu leis seo, idir dhearadh na forbartha, an obair thógála agus na hoibríochtaí féin. Is i ngeall ar phobal na hollscoile a bheith ag obair as lámha a chéile agus ag tacú lena chéile gur osclaíodh dár mic léinn é an bhliain acadúil seo. Tá an costas a bhaineann le hárais chónaithe do mhic léinn nua a thógáil ag cur isteach go mór orainn, agus ar ár mic léinn, agus tá smaointeoireacht úr ag teastáil, agus tacaíocht ón Rialtas. Tá súil againn go ndéanfaidh an fhorbairt nua seo difear, forbairt a bhfuil an cumas aici lóistín a chur ar fáil do bheagnach 2,000 mac léinn, agus leanaimid orainn ag tacú le gach polasaí, infheistíocht agus iarracht chun dul i gcabhair orthu siúd is mó a dteastaíonn sé uathu. Táimid ag súil chomh maith le bheith ag obair lenár mic léinn agus leis an Rialtas chun tuilleadh roghanna inacmhainne maidir le lóistín a chur ar fáil dár mic léinn.” Tá Ollscoil na Gaillimhe in ann lóistín a chur ar fáil ar an gcampas do 1,867 mac léinn. Díreach sular osclaíodh Baile na Breacóige, laghdaíodh na rátaí cíosa i gcás níos mó ná an ceathrú cuid den líon iomlán leapacha, agus rinneadh na cíosanna a reo ar 669 leaba eile don cheathrú bliain as a chéile.  Baile na Breacóige  Is iad Coady Architects a rinne an dearadh don fhorbairt seo, agus is iad J.J. Rhatigan & Co., gnólacht atá lonnaithe i nGaillimh, na conraitheoirí tógála. Tá an Ollscoil ag obair leis an nGníomhaireacht Airgeadais do Thithe maidir le maoiniú an tionscadail.  Tá ceithre fhoirgneamh sa tionscadal seo ar champas thuaidh na hOllscoile agus tá 674 seomra codlata ann i gcineálacha éagsúla árasáin. I measc na n-áiseanna coiteanna atá ann tá seomraí cruinnithe agus spásanna sóisialta agus comhoibrithe do mhic léinn; wifi ar ardchaighdeán agus ardacmhainne; spás fáiltithe mór; fáiltiú agus slándáil a bhfuil fáil orthu 24 uair an chloig mar aon le háit shábháilte chun rothair a choinneáil. Áirítear leis chomh maith 35 seomra codlata inrochtana atá suite i ngach ceann de na ceithre bhloc agus ar dearadh go sainiúil iad le go mbeidís ag teacht leis na cleachtais is fearr atá i bhfeidhm dóibh siúd atá faoi mhíchumas. Tá ocht stór i gceist le Bloc A, agus 124 seomra codlata i 23 árasán. Tá sé comhthreomhar le hAbhainn na Gaillimhe agus nuair atáthar ag féachaint amach ó na hurláir in uachtar, tá an abhainn, an chathair agus cuan na Gaillimhe le feiceáil.  Leagadh amach bloic B/C/D, ina bhfuil 550 seomra codlata en suite, i gcruth U le go mbainfear an leas is fearr as solas nádúrtha an lae. I roinnt de na hárasáin is féidir féachaint ó thuaidh, soir agus ó dheas.   Timpeallacht mhaireachtála úrscothach do mhic léinn atá san fhorbairt seo. Maisíodh na hárasáin ar bhealach glé nua-aimseartha agus tá troscán feistithe ardchaighdeáin sna seomraí codlata agus sna seomraí folctha mar aon le cistineacha feistithe. Críoch

More than 60 families of children with additional needs have been given a unique opportunity to enjoy the joy of Christmas with a special visit to Sensory Santa. The event at University of Galway, which began life in 2017, offering a day-trip to a sensory-friendly grotto has grown this year to run over two days.  Students and staff from the University’s School of Psychology have come together taking on the roles of elves and Santa’s helpers, while a number of local and national businesses offered their support for the project. Dr Ciara Gunning, School of Psychology, University of Galway, said: “Our Sensory Friendly Santa’s Grotto gives children with additional needs and their families an opportunity to visit Santa in their own time and in their own way. Over 60 families attended events this weekend and for many of them it is the first time that they would have had a chance to visit Santa. Our Santa, our elves, our helpers make this what it is and by checking in with our families in advance and making some small tweaks to the grotto set-up and sensory-friendly environment, our team can create an accessible and inclusive event - making real life magic. A huge credit goes to all those who volunteer – our staff and students at the School of Psychology, and this year the support from businesses has been immense and it has made such a phenomenal difference to the days.” Sensory Santa at University of Galway was supported this year by a number of local and national businesses including Smyth’s; Supermacs; Dough Bros; McD’s; 56 Central; Connacht Hospitality Group; Centra; Lidl; Gourmet Tart; Galway Bay Hotel; Revive Active; Dunnes Stores; Name It. This year the organisers were also able to support a new Sensory Santa and grotto event for 20 families in Belmullet, Co Mayo. Businesses in Mayo supporting the event included Erris Arts Centre; O’Donoghue’s Bakery; Mayo North East; Western Strands; Lir beauty Rooms; Malone Welfare Unit hire; Beautified Beauty Salon; Toymaster Ballina; The Cake Queen; Hegarty’s Gift Shop; Happy Souls Reflexology. Ends