Abandon Courses or Sleep Rough.

19th August 2002

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is predicting that countless students will be forced to abandon their studies or refuse their college place due to the accommodation mayhem that is expected in the coming weeks. Students will tonight sleep outside the Department of Environment and Local Government in a specially built house to draw attention to the situation. USI is demanding that student purpose accommodation be built immediately.

Colm Jordan, President, USI said: "Accommodation problems for students have been described as a crisis in previous years. This year, 'catastrophe' will be a more fitting description. Successive Governments have fostered and protected a system where the only winner is the landlord. We believe that the situation is so grave that some students will face the dilemma of choosing between abandoning their courses or sleeping rough. Others will spend as long as four or five hours daily commuting in order to reach lectures and more will have chosen their course by location due to projected rent costs rather than studying where they genuinely want to.
Higher Education Authority (HEA) data from last year showed that 1,017 students had to resort to staying in hostels as they could not secure other accommodation. Such an arrangement is hardly conducive to study and highlights just how far the Government has allowed the problem to develop. This Government's maxim seems to be to attack the vulnerable. "

Maureen Woods, Welfare Officer, USI said: "Education is stressful enough without the annual search for suitable housing. Every year there is a huge demand for on-campus accommodation but unfortunately there is only a very limited supply, and students cannot compete with professionals for accommodation in the private rented sector.
It is imperative that the Government commit to the provision of purpose-built accommodation for students on or near the country's campuses. Figures from 2000 show that only 6% of students in Ireland are housed in on-campus accommodation compared with 28% in the UK and 17% in Europe. The student grant also needs to be brought in line with social welfare payments to offset the escalation in rent and other costs in recent years. There also needs to be a minimum bill of rights for students in on-campus accommodation."

Brendan Ferron, Eastern Area Officer, USI said: "The shortfall is having a devastating effect on certain sections of society. Research shows that our colleges are failing to attract poorer students, and the colossal cost of living plays a large part in this situation. For example, a student in Dublin's north inner city is eight times less likely to pursue a third level education than a similar student from Foxrock.
In another knock-on effect from Minister Dempsey's increase in back door fees, most students will have the money they would have put aside for an accommodation deposit wiped out after the €274 hike in the capitation fee. For many students there has never been a bleaker autumn to face into financially."