Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell has said that the current student accommodation model is “unsustainable” and “failing students” across the country.
Deputy Farrell was responding to a report yesterday which showed the price of student accommodation in most universities in the State have increased across for the coming academic year.
Only University of Galway has not increased its fees for students in September.
Many are increasing the prices by the maximum 2% increase allowed by the rent pressure zone, which Farrell said is “more bad news for students”.
“For instance, in DCU first year students staying in the Larkfield apartments will have to pay €5,863 – up from €5,584 last year,” said the Sinn Féin TD.
“In UCD, the cheapest private room to rent is now €7,767, reaching its highest level ever. In Trinity College those staying in the Printing House Square complex will have to pay a total of €10,379.”
She said that the additional costs required by students to cover their housing expenses will place more pressure on students whose educational experience has already been diminished from the related stress and anxiety.
“The demand for student accommodation continues to outstrip supply, and there’s little evidence that supply is ramping up. This places upward pressure on prices whilst lowering the student experience for many.
“We cannot just lay the blame for this on the universities themselves. They are required to operate within the confines of a delivery model which is clearly broken.”
