The allocated fund for the establishment of student dormitories in the historic center of Nicosia amounts to €21.8 million.
These dormitories will serve the architectural school of the University of Cyprus, which is known to be housed in the Faneromeni school.
This fund pertains to the first two projects announced by the government, with a third call expected, and so far, only a small portion has been allocated.
Minister of Interior Mr. Constantinos Ioannou, responding to a question from MP Giorgos Koukoumas, stated the following:
- During the 1st Call of the Grant Scheme (GS), announced on 02/05/2022, with a duration of 6 months and a budget of €7.5 million, an Agreement for Public Funding (APF) was signed for the development of 13 student rooms, with an approved grant of €363,664.
- The Town Planning and Housing Department (TPHD) revised the Scheme Guide and re-announced the GS on 04/12/2023, with a duration of one month and a budget of €14.3 million. The GS Call expired on 29/12/2023 due to the revision of the de minimis Regulations.
- Four proposals were submitted during the second Call, and so far, two have been approved for the creation of a total of 50 student rooms, with a total grant of €2,272,554. The other two are in the evaluation phase.
- Following all established procedures, it is expected that the 3rd Call of the GS will be announced in the next period and will remain open until the budget is exhausted.
- Three proposals have been evaluated and approved so far. During the 1st Call, one proposal for the creation of 13 student rooms was approved, and during the 2nd Call, two proposals for the creation of 50 student rooms have been approved.
- The budgets of the 1st and 2nd Calls have not been exhausted, as the grants for the approved proposals amount to €2,636,218.
- Under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, in addition to the GS for the creation of student dormitories/rooms implemented by the TPHD, with a total budget of €15 million, the Municipality of Nicosia is obliged to create 70 student dormitories/rooms in two buildings on Voulgaroktonou, Arsinoyis, and Komninou streets and on Aristidou street. Construction works on these buildings have started.
- It is noted that the initial goal concerning the construction and operation/allocation of 560 student rooms, no later than the 2nd quarter of 2026, has been revised, and the new goal concerns the creation of a total of 450 student rooms. Of these, 70 will be constructed by the Municipality of Nicosia.
The Minister notes that the TPHD (in cooperation with the Municipality of Nicosia) is implementing the fast-track licensing procedure. Based on the current data, it is estimated that the total budget of €15 million will be exhausted, approximately, in the creation of 380 student rooms, a number covered by the total interest expressed so far.
