Students stranded as Minister considers rent hikes
Students stranded as Minister considers rent hikes - The Labour Party
- Labour to protest against student rent hikes tomorrow at 11am
- Labour calls for action on student accommodation
Labour spokesperson for further and higher education Senator Laura Harmon said the Minister must reduce the cost of education.
Speaking in advance of a cross party protest outside Leinster House tomorrow at 11am against rent hikes, Senator Harmon said:
“At a time when the cost of living, the cost of commuting, the cost of eating and the cost of renting continues to skyrocket, the Minister for Further and Higher Education must side with students by reducing the cost of attending education. Enough is enough. Families are already enduring an additional €500 cost to student fees, now the Minister must not allow the paving of the way for multiple rent increases for students under RPZ legislation.
“Charities like the St Vincent de Paul are clear, there are too many financial barriers in place when it comes to attending further education. This flies in the face of all commitments made by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil a little over a year ago during the general election, indeed it is contrary to what the Programme for Government commits to.
“The interests of the private sector have been put ahead of students and their families for far too long. We know that the dearth of affordable housing is crucifying families, pushing students further and further away from their education institutions and will continue to push people out of education.
“Instead of introducing price hikes, the Minister should focus on building out a long term strategy for sustainable and affordable accommodation for students. The publication of a Student Accommodation Strategy has been promised and delayed. It’s no way to do business. I’m calling on all students and their families to join me tomorrow to send a clear message to Fianna Fáil that students are not cash cows.
“We are rightly proud of the quality of our graduates when they enter the workforce, but this Minister is putting up barriers preventing many young people entering further and higher education rather than broadening the base.”