Ninth Level Ireland

“Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) has told students to make ‘alternative travel and accommodation arrangements’ as it is ‘unlikely’ to offer a room to any student living less than 40 miles from the university. Students living 40 miles away, however, have been told that it is not certain that they will have a room to stay in come mid-October …” (more)

[Amy Cochrane, Belfast Telegraph, 16 September]

“The student housing crisis is ‘the worst it’s ever been’ – with thousands on waiting lists for rooms; hundreds relying on hostels and friends’ sofas; and countless more facing deferral or dropping out altogether …” (more)

[Stephen Corrigan, Connacht Tribune, 16 September]

“Unaffordable accommodation has resulted in record levels of homelessness among students who are sleeping on couches or forced to commute up to four hours a day, the Dáil has been told. People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said the situation was ‘absolutely dire’ for students who are being forced to stay in hotels where they have to pay up to €400 a week …” (more)

[Marie O’Halloran, Irish Times, 15 September]

“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has condemned the lack of accommodation for students returning to campuses, saying some are dropping out as they cannot find somewhere to live. The union said in a press statement today that one student union has reported receiving over 100 requests for help a day on its accommodation Facebook page …” (more)

[Emer Moreau, University Times, 15 September]

“A number of students in Limerick have been forced to hold up in hotels because of a lack of student accommodation in the city and its suburbs. Students, including some who have travelled from abroad to study in the Treaty City, say the government and universities need to step up to solve the housing crisis and meet demand for affordable and suitable housing …” (more)

[David Raleigh, Limerick Post, 14 September]

“Third-level students in Limerick are staying in hotels because they cannot find suitable accommodation in the city. In a sign that the student accommodation crisis has spread this year beyond the larger university cities such as Dublin or Cork, students studying in Limerick are paying up to €390 weekly for five nights in a hotel as part of a deal struck between Mary Immaculate College and three city hotels to accommodate students …” (more)

[Emma O Kelly, RTÉ News, 14 September]

“Two students say they have been left without accommodation after Queen’s University withdrew an offer of halls …” (more)

[BBC News, 12 September]

“Gardai are planning to continue conducting ‘high visibility patrols’ near the University of Limerick following large student gatherings since colleges returned. They received reports on Monday and Tuesday night of gatherings in College Court, an estate that plays host to hundreds of students throughout the college term …” (more)

[Marita Moloney, Irish Mirror, 9 September]

“A Limerick property letting agent has suggested the anti-social behaviour of some students has resulted in many landlords either selling up, or renting to professionals instead. This week, the Limerick Leader has highlighted a surge in demand for student accommodation units, with suggestions demand has spiked 30% since 2016, while the supply of property has fallen …” (more)

[Nick Rabbitts, Limerick Leader, 9 September]

“Students at Queen’s University (QUB) are being offered a £1,500 deal not to take up rooms in university accommodation. The university said due to ‘unprecedented’ demand accommodation in its halls was oversubscribed …” (more)

[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 9 September]

“The Government must provide funding to aid third-level institutions in delivering purpose-built student accommodation, according to the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). As students return to campus for the autumn semester over the coming weeks, the shortage of accommodation is once again proving to be a major issue in parts of the country …” (more)

[Muireann Duffy, BreakingNews.ie, 7 September]

“As the autumn semester for local third level colleges begins, demand for accommodation has skyrocketed, with many students still trying to secure a roof over their head. One city auctioneer has revealed a 30% increase in enquiries from students seeking a bedroom – but at the same time, the number of houses on offer is falling, as homeowners take advantage of a buoyant selling market …” (more)

[Nick Rabbitts, Limerick Leader, 7 September]

“A student housing crisis is forcing some students to defer third-level education until they have saved enough money to cover escalating accommodation and college costs …” (more)

[Liz Dunphy, Irish Examiner, 6 September]

“Students face paying up to €11,000 for on-campus accommodation this year. UCD updated its costs for on-campus accommodation for this coming academic year, with options ranging from €6,728 to €10,526 for first year students and €6,447 to €11,113 for returning students …” (more)

[Seoirse Mulgrew, Independent, 6 September]

“Developers have secured the go-ahead for 561 student bed spaces in two separate developments in Cork and Limerick cities. In granting fast track planning in two separate cases on Monday, An Bord Pleanála has cleared the way for the construction by Cloncaragh Investments Ltd of 318 student bed spaces and 30 build-to-rent apartments containing an additional 104 bed spaces at Punches Cross in Limerick …” (more)

[Gordon Deegan, Irish Times, 23 August]

“The breakdown of the cost of college will surprise few in third level. But at this time of year, when the cost of going back to school is all over the media, students deserve a look in, writes the Editorial Board. Going to college is now simply accepted as being expensive in Ireland. It shouldn’t be …” (more)

[University Times, 22 August]

“Plans for a major student development in Cork city have been given the green light. Bellmount Development Limited has been granted planning permission from An Bord Pleanála for the demolition of existing structures on the site of Kelleher’s Auto Centre, Wilton Road, Victoria Cross, Bishopstown and the subsequent construction of 243 student bed spaces …” (more)

[EchoLive, 23 August]

“In the last five years Dublin has seen a proliferation of a type of accommodation common in other parts of the world but previously largely unseen in Ireland: privately-owned purpose-build student accommodation (PBSAs) …” (more)

[Patrick Freyne, Irish Times, 21 August]

“Purpose-built student apartment blocks in Dublin city could be turned into homeless accommodation under proposals from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE). The DRHE is seeking to take advantage of the glut of new student blocks in the city which have failed to attract sufficient numbers of students. This has been attributed to the shift to online lectures, fewer overseas students arriving during the pandemic and high rents …” (more)

[Olivia Kelly, Irish Times, 23 August]

“High rental prices and a severe shortage of available accommodation is seeing more students opting to commute to their universities from next month onwards …” (more)

[Amy Blaney, Independent, 20 August]