Student accommodation crisis demands Govt attention

Student accommodation crisis demands Govt attention

Senator Annie Hoey, Labour spokesperson on Higher Education has, ahead of the CAO offers tomorrow, called on the Government to act to address the serious shortage of student accommodation in Ireland.

Senator Hoey said:

"The rising cost of living is already putting a massive strain on students, and the lack of affordable accommodation is making it even harder for them to get by.

"The student accommodation crisis is as bad as ever. It is increasingly difficult to find accommodation that is affordable for the academic year. Many of the options available for student accommodation are either too expensive or accommodation that is substandard and overcrowded.

"Many students are facing a year of torturous commutes, the prospect of having to live in poor quality substandard accommodation, or the prospect of dropping out of college altogether. This is not good enough and we need Government to take real action on the lack of affordable accommodation for students.

"There is also the risk of rental scams in the student accommodation and private rental accommodation market. Students need to be aware of the risks of rental scams and take steps to protect themselves. I advise students to contact their institution's accommodation service and their students' union when looking for accommodation."