The Government’s Student Accommodation Strategy has been branded ‘unambitious’ amid a scramble for accommodation by Clare’s university students.
A the new college year begins, the opposition is highlighting that accommodation delivery has hit a 20 year low.
The most recent figures show students in Limerick are paying €16,520 a year in rent, while those living in Galway face annual costs of €16,064.
In 2024, €100m was committed by Government to the delivery of approximately 1,000 student beds, with just 116 of these having been delivered in Maynooth so far.
Students at the University of Galway staged a sleep-out earlier this week in protest against the lack of legislation around digs accommodation.
President Of Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, Seán de Búrca, says more protections for those in digs must be implemented, while short term let legislation must be enforced.
He claims the current accommodation strategy is set to solve just one-fifteenth of the problem.
Students attending TUS have no access to purpose built accommodation.
The institution’s €750m Masterplan, launched earlier this week, includes provisions for future student accommodation at its Moylish and Limerick City centre campuses.
Student Union President, Emma Hogan, says it’s urgently needed as students are currently forced to compete with those in UL and Mary I for private properties.
University of Limerick has, per capita, the most amount of purpose-built accommodation in Ireland.
Despite this, there are just 3,000 student beds to cater for a population of 20,000.
UL Student Life President Eva McCormack says approximately 40% of their students are forced to commute due to the lack of availability.
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Clare’s opposition TD has criticised plans for student accommodation to be leased back to the university it’s built on.
Shannon Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan says there’s no clarity on the cost and delivery of purpose-built accommodation on university land.
