Government failure on student housing laid bare
- Students at sharp edge of housing crisis
Labour’s Further and Higher Education spokesperson Senator Laura Harmon has condemned the Government’s continued failure to address the student accommodation crisis,
Senator Harmon said:
“The student accommodation crisis is as increasingly worsening and is a symptom of the wider housing crisis. It is increasingly difficult for students to find affordable housing for the academic year. Many of the options available are either too expensive or substandard and overcrowded. Government after government has failed to take student housing seriously, and young people are paying the price.
“Students across the country are facing impossible choices—between torturous commutes, living in poor-quality housing, or dropping out of college altogether. This is unacceptable. Education should be a pathway to opportunity, not a struggle for survival. We heard this week a survey from University Galway Students’ Union found that students are struggling to find accommodation, while in Cork we know from UCC Students’ Union that over one quarter of students have gone to lectures hungry, and 57% are not confident they could cover an unexpected bill like a rent hike or medical expense.
“The reality is that the student rental market is not working. Institutions and private landlords continue to charge sky-high rents for accommodation that is often substandard. With rising costs and stagnant support, more and more students are being pushed to the brink.
“This Government cannot keep ignoring the crisis. Labour is calling for a dedicated student housing strategy that guarantees affordable, purpose-built accommodation in every college town and city. We need a serious, long-term plan to ensure that students can access safe, secure, and affordable housing.
“Young people should not have to choose between their education and a roof over their heads. The time for excuses is over—Government must act now.”