The frantic search for third-level accommodation has started earlier than ever, with many Leaving Cert students already paying rent on their college digs.
The Sunday Independent reports that housing experts believe some students are being forced to pay rent during the summer months "to hold on to the places they've got".
New figures from College Cribs – a third-level property website – shows an 18 per-cent rise in activity compared to the same time last year.
Meanwhile, student officers say the deepening crisis is an access to education issue and is damaging Ireland's academic reputation abroad.
There are currently 165-thousand full-time students in Ireland – however this figure is expected to rise to about 200-thousand in the next 15 years with fears that the accommodation crisis will crush dreams of University life for thousands.
