Students at third level colleges across the country have walked out of lectures and tutorials this morning in protest at the accommodation and cost-of-living crises.
The action, which took place at 11 minutes past 11, saw hundreds of students gather in college quads and other outdoor spaces to protest and draw attention to the financial difficulties many of them are facing.
It was organised by the Union of Students in Ireland, which said that landlords are exploiting the student accommodation crisis by charging sky-high rents.
Pointing to an expected shortage of 20,000 student beds by 2024, the union has criticised the Government for not capping student rents and said Budget 2023 showed no commitment to solving the shortage.
The budget provided for a €1,000 reduction in fees for most students, however the USI said PhD students are still fighting for a stipend that covers their costs of living.
Trinity first year Engineering students join today’s national student walkout #studentwalkout pic.twitter.com/l2U86T9IxE
— emma o kelly (@emma_okelly) October 13, 2022
It has also criticised the overall underfunding of the sector by the Government, which it said is having a negative impact on both staff and students.
Students are calling for an immediate ban on evictions and the introduction of housing as a constitutional right.
They say students in digs tenancies and short-term tenants need to see the introduction of rental protections and minimum standards.
The USI is also calling for legislative changes to ensure the Residential Tenancies Board can intervene in disputes relating to security deposits.
It said students need an immediate cap on the price of renting, and it is calling for urgent Government intervention with public funds to subsidise the construction of affordable, purpose built student accommodation.
The union is also calling for the abolition of the Student Contribution Charge and wants the minimum wage to match the current living wage of €13.10 an hour.
Rental pressure not balancing out – USI
USI President Beth O’Reilly said the €1,000 reduction in student contribution did not put more money back in students pockets, but is just taking less money from students.
They said people should not be patting themselves on the back for that.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, they said there had been hope that some of the rental market pressure would balance out in late October, but this is not proving to be the case.
There are still countless students who cannot source accommodation, who are making whole day commutes to attend college and are living in hostels, they said, adding that a number of students have been forced to defer their courses because of financial pressures.
Students walk out in protest at accommodation crisis
Source: Viral Trends Report
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