Free on-campus Covid-19 tests will be made available from next week for students at the University of Limerick.
It's after a number of clusters were identified in housing estates in the Castletroy area, where many students reside.
The Department of Public Health Mid-West says a large number of the transmissions came from "simple household visits" in off-campus accommodation.
Dr Marie Casey, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, says students are a unique group.
"They can often live with a number of housemates in large households."
"Some students have part-time jobs, and many will go home on the weekends to visit family and friends."
Dr Casey says this makes the student population susceptible to transmitting the virus.
On top of this, many young people can carry the virus without showing symptoms.
This can lead to students transmitting the virus - without even knowing they have it.
Meanwhile, Interim President of the University Professor Kirsten May says campus activity is down to 2% of what it's normally like.
"Where we can put any further measure in place to protect our own and the surrounding communities we will do so," she said.
Students at UL can register for a test without needing to display symptoms or identifying as a close contact.
They have been contacted with full details on how to register online for an on-campus test. All tests will be processed by the HSE.
