A local TD and Chair of the Oireachtas Education and Skills Committee has said that university students are facing an ‘accommodation crisis’ as each of the country’s universities have increased their rents for the coming academic year.
Deputy Fiona O’Loughlin said, “Rents are really high around the country and students are being priced out of the rental market.
“Parents are under financial pressure as it is with the cost of sending a child to university and the sky-high rents being charged are seriously exacerbating the situation.
“I am concerned that the student accommodation crisis is only going to get worse with universities using rents as a source of income.
“The Education Committee continues to examine the funding issues facing our third level institutions and consider it unfair to students and their families that universities need increased revenue from campus accommodation.”
Deputy O’Loughin stated that government funding is essential to ease the financial burden on parents.
“More Government funding is essential to avoid this increased financial burden on parents. A big part of the University experience is living away from home for the first time but this is becoming increasingly difficult to afford for most families, in turn affecting the choice of course and college for students”.
“Our Education Committee summer school takes place shortly and will look at university accommodation issues as well as school costs, SUSI grants and reduced timetables,” concluded Deputy O’Loughlin.
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