Ninth Level Ireland

“The country’s universities were able to engage in widespread rent hikes because new caps introduced by the Housing Minister don’t take effect until next week. Eoghan Murphy is being accused of ‘incompetence’ after colleges pre-empted his clampdown, rendering it useless for the coming academic term. The Irish Independent revealed yesterday that students are facing rent increases of up to 11.5% year on year for university-owned and on-campus accommodation …” (more)

[Kevin Doyle, Cormac McQuinn and Gabija Gataveckaite, Independent, 8 August]

“Universities have recorded a sharp increase in the number of students wearing banned smartwatches in exam halls. Most third-level institutions prohibit the use of Fitbits, Apple Watches and other devices which allow users to upload and access documents …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 8 August]

“Ireland goes to UCD’s Roebuck Castle. Priced at a cool €11,591 for the 2019-2020 academic year, it is by far the costliest college accommodation provided by an Irish university …” (more)

[Gabija Gataveckaite, Independent, 8 August]

“Today’s reports of student accommodation price hikes reflect a worrying pattern in the Irish housing market. In Trinity, the cost of a room in Goldsmith Hall – hardly a building in mint condition – has risen by €389 since last year, with similar increases across all of Ireland’s cash-starved colleges. This trend, of course, will come as no surprise to any student in the market for a place to live … (more)

[Orla Murnaghan, University Times, 7 August]

“In June, we were the first company to put an unmanned self-driving truck on a public highway. We test-drove a commercial truck for nine miles along the Florida Turnpike in the United States with nobody in it, changed lanes and kept a speed of 55mph …” (more)

[Rebecca Feeney Barry, Independent, 8 August]

“Last May, as my youngest was attending her final classes before the Leaving Cert, I wrote a piece for this paper in jubilant celebration at the end of the school run. College, I figured, would be her own business and something she could manage herself. Just like an exasperated, exhausted dragon, I was out …” (more)

[Barbara Scully, Independent, 8 August]

“Last week, the University of Limerick announced a rainbow housing scheme as an option for queer students. This programme has come under scrutiny by many, who have called the project a means of ‘segregation’ and a step back in the march towards equality. I would argue that this is untrue …” (more)

[Nathan O’Regan, University Times, 6 August]