“The NUI Galway students Union has hit out at the university over its decision to increase rent for on campus student accommodation. NUIG, DCU and UCD are all increasing the cost of their on campus accommodation by 4% – the maximum allowed by law …” (more)
[Galway Bay FM, 14 February]
“NUI Galway has become the latest university to announce plans to increase on-campus rent prices by 4% for the next academic year, bringing the monthly cost of a single room to €750 …” (more)
[Emer Moreau, University Times, 14 February]
“Universities that are raising rents for on-campus accommodation have said the rises are due to the refurbishment and upgrade of their student residencies. In a statement, DCU said it has an ‘ongoing refurbishment investment programme’ in its student residences …” (more)
[BreakingNews.ie, 14 February]
“Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) have tonight established working groups to work towards opposing proposed rent increase of 4% to all College operated accommodation, due to be considered by Trinity’s finance committee …” (more)
[Finn Purdy and Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 12 February]
“DCU campus accommodation is set to increase the cost of rent by 4% for the academic year 2020/2021. According to DCU Chief Operations Officer, Declan Raferty: ‘The pricing structure for DCU’s students residences is reviewed annually and for the next academic year… the prices will be increased by 4% …'” (more)
[Áine O’Boyle and Róisín Phelan, The College View, 12 February]
“If it’s probably fair to say that Trinity’s top officials haven’t exactly placed students front and centre over the years, then there is an extent to which College has recognised the power of students in recent times, and dialled back – slightly – its antagonism …” (more)
[University Times, 10 February]
“Rent prices for on-campus accommodation in Trinity could be increased by 4%, The University Times has learned. A document from the agenda of Trinity’s Finance Committee, obtained by The University Times, shows that a paper will go to the committee’s next meeting in February ‘seeking a 4% increase in all staff and student rates’ …” (more)
[Emer Moreau, University Times, 6 February]
“University College Dublin (UCD) will increase rents for its on-campus student accommodation by 12 per cent over the next three years, the maximum increase permitted under rent cap laws. The increase would see the cost of student accommodation on the Belfield campus rise to between €8,000 and €9,900 per year over the next three year …” (more)
[Jack Power, Irish Times, 5 February]
“Sir, – As a working parent, I have come to the conclusion that you have to be very rich or very poor to qualify for grants or scholarships. Those of us in the middle-income class who do not meet the threshold of being under a certain reckonable income do not qualify and must pay the full amount of fees and accommodation if our children wish to progress in these third-level institutions …” (more)
[Christy Galligan, Irish Times, 17 January]
“A painful rental market and increasing costs being loaded onto third level students are all contributing to increasing demand on student counselling services, according to Galway’s student leader …” (more)
[Stephen Corrigan, Connacht Tribune, 15 November]
“Up to 20 students every week are availing of a Food Bank that’s been set up at University College Cork. The parcels are a direct response to those experiencing poverty but who the student union couldn’t immediately offer financial help to …” (more)
[Irish Examiner, 15 November]
“Up to 20 students at University College Cork are availing of a food bank service on a weekly basis. The UCC Students’ Union founded the food bank in response to the financial hardships expressed by students due to rising rents and static levels of student grant aid …” (more)
[Marian O’Flaherty, RTÉ News, 11 November]
“This week, University College Cork (UCC) became the first Irish university in modern times to open a food bank for struggling students. The organiser, University College Cork Students’ Union (UCCSU), follows in the footsteps of several smaller institutes, which have recently reported on the success of food bank initiatives in their colleges. That such measures are needed, however, no doubt sounded alarm bells for many …” (more)
[University Times, 4 November]
“University College Cork Students’ Union (UCCSU) has launched a food bank as part of its student hardship fund to help students in financial difficulty. UCCSU is seeking to address the issue of student poverty in a ‘tangible manner’, in the wake of reports showing an estimated 36% of students in Ireland are currently experiencing ‘severe financial problems’ …” (more)
[Robert Quinn, University Times, 27 October]
“Sir, – That students from affluent backgrounds are more likely to study ‘high points’ courses should come as little surprise to anybody (News, October 21st). However, the findings of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) report make clear the need for significant additional, targeted investment across all levels of education to afford students an equal opportunity to fulfil their own potential, irrespective of their postal address …” (more)
[Letters, Irish Times, 24 October]
“The consistent failure of the government to restore funding levels to higher education is a major impediment to access by students from disadvantaged backgrounds, the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has stated. Responding to new data from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) which found that only 10% of the national student population is from a disadvantaged background …” (more)
[IFUT, 23 October]
“The Irish Universities Association (IUA) welcomes HEA’s new report on the Spatial and Socio-Economic Profile of Higher Education Institutions in Ireland. The IUA has been using the same type of geocoded data as an indicator of socioeconomic background for the HEAR scheme for 10 years and has been advocating for others to use it for similar purposes. This report helps universities to ensure that they can identify and address the needs of the most underrepresented groups in Higher Education …” (more)
[IUA, 21 October]
“There’s no doubt that the data the HEA has complied is extremely valuable. It’s also fascinating. It doesn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know however, it just confirms it. The link between socio-economic status, academic attainment, and future earning levels is deep and enduring …” (more)
[Emma O Kelly, RTÉ News, 21 October]
“Those from Better Off Financial Backgrounds Still More Likely to Go to College. Progress has been made in delivering on the national priority of increasing access to higher education. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) today, Monday 21st, publishes a detailed picture of the geographical and socio-economic make-up of Ireland’s higher education institutions and courses. All publicly funded institutions except Trinity College Dublin are included in the study. Among the key findings are …” (more, download)
[David Sheils, HEA, 21 October]
“Affluent students are far more likely to study high-points courses in university and earn more within months of graduating than those from less well-off backgrounds, a new study finds. Medicine, dentistry, finance and engineering courses attract the highest proportions of well-off students from the wealthiest parts of the country, according to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) research …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 21 October]
