National walk-out protests 'huge deficit of accommodation' pricing students out of education
At College Out At Picture: The Costs Linehan And Students Dan Walk Fees Protest Ucc In National
Students are being priced out of education due to the lack of affordable accommodation, according to those protesting across college campuses as part of a national walk-out.
Thousands of students at colleges around the country walked out of lecture halls on Thursday as part of a national protest highlighting anger and frustration ahead of the next general election.
Organised by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), the walk-out aimed to highlight how students feel about what they see as a “complete lack” of measures to support them.
“The main issue, and our main demand, is around student accommodation,” said Hayley O’Connell with the University College Cork students union (UCCSU).
“With the deficit of 30,000 student beds nationally, in the budget we only got an activation of 1,200 student beds.
“We’re left with a huge deficit of accommodation for students, and that is the most pressing issue on the ground.
“During the months of August and September we had students into us, and into the UCC accommodation office, every day just absolutely desperate looking for somewhere.
“They just can’t afford the prices on the market.
“We’ve seen some of the newer private rentals go for as much as €430 a week for a studio apartment, which is crazy, and obviously, the private rental market isn’t much better.”
Rent pressure zone legislation, where rent increases are capped at a maximum of 2% a year or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower, is being circumvented, they added.
“The rate of rent over the last seven years has gone up exponentially even with the laws in place. From 2017 to 2024, the price of a single room has increased by 48%.
“Students really do fall into a trap with that the most because they are so desperate to get anywhere near the college, they’ll just end up paying prices that they realistically can’t afford and then they’ll end up in a situation where they are working hours that are unsustainable so that they can't go to college.
“It's a vicious cycle, and without the Government’s investment within student accommodation as a core value, that’s not going to get any better.”
USI president Chris Clifford said: "We know students are working more hours than ever, are commuting long distances or are sleeping in cars or on friend’s sofas in order to attend college. This is affecting their academic performance, and it’s also affecting their mental health.
"USI has been out on campuses registering students to vote over the last 14 months, and we know students are angry and frustrated, and if TDs and general election candidates don’t support students and support their manifesto, we definitely will not be supporting them in the ballot box.”
In an open letter to Taoiseach Simon Harris, students at Munster Technological University (MTU) sought to highlight what they describe as "dire" issues with the third-level sector.
"Year after year, students struggle to find safe, affordable places to live. MTU students face an increase in accommodation scams, and those lucky enough to find a place pay exorbitant prices for unsafe conditions impacting both their physical and mental health.
"This is no longer just a housing issue. It's an education crisis. How can students excel in their studies when they are constantly worried about where they'll sleep at night?
"Students are the future doctors, engineers and teachers of Ireland. They deserve a secure living space that nurtures their potential, not a system that prioritizes profit over their wellbeing."