LAST UPDATE | 19 Feb

THE MINISTER FOR Higher Education is not happy with Sinn Féin, after leader Mary Lou McDonald reportedly objected to a student accommodation development in Cabra.

When questioned by Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan on student housing at an Oireachtas committee on Wednesday, Minister James Lawless turned the issue back around on the opposition, saying they’ve been “inconsistent” in their views.

Lawless was contrasting the views of some Sinn Féin party members with recent reports that McDonald sought to block new student accommodation being built in her neighbourhood.

It was reported that the joint objection with Councillor Seamus McGrattan states that the proposal for the Cabra site doesn’t address the housing needs of the area.

“Sinn Féin believes that this site should be used to deliver the affordable and social homes that are so badly needed in the local community,” they wrote.

Labour Party TD Marie Sherlock has also reportedly objected.

Govt refuse to fund affordable student accommodation on Grangegorman campus - a ready to go project. Instead they want unaffordable tower block 1km away on a site in Cabra that is suited only to affordable & social housing for families. FF/FG cause & prolong housing… https://t.co/YyRGJQ3Jib

— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) February 19, 2026

In a post to X this morning, McDonald said: “[The government] refuse to fund affordable student accommodation on [the] Grangegorman campus – a ready to go project. Instead they want unaffordable tower block 1km away on a site in Cabra that is suited only to affordable & social housing for families.

“FF/FG cause and prolong housing emergency.”

When questioned by McGettigan on the topic of student accommodation, Lawless told her to “speak to your party leader”.

He said he’s written to her twice about the matter but has yet to receive a response.

“I think we all have to be consistent on this, and I think it’s disingenuous to come into a committee grilling me, rightly, about student accommodation and then your party leader is objecting to student accommodation,” he said.

“To me, that’s an inconsistent position.”

He said McGettigan was “in support” of the latest McDermott housing report, which recommended successive rent hikes on students, while her party colleague Eoin Ó Broin previously spoke out against it.

McGettigan said: “Is this debate not for me to ask you questions?

Lawless said: “It’s for me to reply as well.”

McGetting said Lawless was “going on the attack” in response to questions.