Tipperary TD, Jackie Cahill has said that the parents of 3rd level students are being placed under severe financial pressure as a result of rocketing accommodation prices in cities across the country.
“We’re now coming towards the end of the 2017/18 academic year, and the parents of 3rd level students have been forking out large sums of money to rent rooms in cities such as Limerick, Galway, Cork and Dublin.
“In some cases, students in Dublin are being charged over €700 per month for a room in a shared house. Campus accommodation can be well in excess of €6000 for the academic year.
“In other cities, students are still being charged well over €400 and in some cases, €500 per month.
“Families who are not eligible for a SUSI grant are paying for this accommodation and all of the other costs associated with going to college out of their own pocket, and there is a concern that these costs will increase next year.
“It’s disturbing to note that out of term, the cost of rent in many student accommodation units drops by as much as 40%. It appears that landlords are gorging on students, and it’s just not fair on them or their parents.
“They are being forced to take on more hours in part time jobs to pay for rent which can only distract from their studies. It’s not sustainable in the long run,” concluded Cahill.
