Student accommodation hikes unacceptable
Labour Party Education spokesperson, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has criticised student accommodation providers in Dublin for proposing sharp rent increases for student accommodation.
Senator Ó Ríordáin said:
“The latest rent increases by private student accommodation providers will see privately-owned DCU student accommodation fees rise to over €10,000 for nine months.
“The housing crisis we are now facing is becoming a prevalent feature in Irish society and these student accommodation companies are exploiting this crisis to charge extortionate accommodation fees.
“Charging students and their families from outside of Dublin over triple the annual college fee for student accommodation will deter many students of fulfilling long-term ambitions to study in DCU.
“We’ve heard many good news stories in the last week about making DCU more accessible, with it becoming the world’s first autism friendly campus, the notion that students who come from outside of Dublin to study there will essentially be priced out takes away from the good work on the university’s part to open up the campus.
“I fully support the views of DCU Students’ Union, who are resisting their fellow students as being seen as cash cows.
“These student accommodation providers cannot shirk their responsibilities to the students and the wider community of the Northside of Dublin.”