“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) have called on the government to break the barriers to third level education. In a statement, the USI criticised government ministers Joe McHugh and Mary Mitchell O’Connor for downplaying the accommodation and higher education funding crises …” (more)
[Tadgh McNally, The College View, 20 August]
“Two Government ministers are under fire for ‘alarming’ comments on the cost of living for students. Craig McHugh, Union of Students in Ireland vice president for the Dublin region, said young people face huge obstacles to university due to rising rents and stagnated student grants …” (more)
[Laura Lynott, Independent, 17 August]
“When Adrasteia Hughes accepted her offer of a place studying sociology and linguistics at UCD, she had no idea of just how draining the daily commute would be. She spends up to four hours each day on buses and trains in rush-hour traffic to get from her home in Co Kildare to the campus at Belfield and back again …” (more)
[Lynn Rusk and Jade Wilson, Irish Times, 17 August]
“The Government has been heavily criticised for suggesting students should use their Susi grant to cover the cost of accommodation, or go to regional colleges. Fianna Fáil accused Fine Gael of having a ‘let them eat cake’ attitude to higher education costs facing families, as Leaving Cert students receive their first round CAO offers today …” (more)
[Hugh O’Connell, Independent, 15 August]
“Irish universities have rounded on Minister for Education Joe McHugh after he pledged not to increase student fees in the next five years, calling for ‘positive solutions on funding’ from the government. In a statement released this afternoon, the Irish Universities Association (IUA) said that McHugh’s promise not to increase fees beyond €3,000, made in an interview with the Sunday Independent, ‘tells us what the Minister will not do’ …” (more)
[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 12 August]
“More than 55,000 Leaving Cert students are set to receive their exam results on Tuesday under a new fast-tracked process which will see college applicants receive their offers before the end of this week. The changes also mean students who appeal their exam grades will receive their results three weeks earlier than normal …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 12 August]
“Minister for Education Joe McHugh has pledged not to raise college fees past €3,000 for the next five years if his party is returned to government in the next general election. In a move that echoes the recent promise by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar not to increase Ireland’s fees …” (more)
[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 11 August]
“Owners of purpose-built student accommodation have been accused of hiking prices ahead of new caps on rent increases coming into force next week. Until now, purpose-built student accommodation has been exempt from legislation capping increases in designated pressure zones. This is due to change on Thursday, when it formally comes under new legislation that will limit price increases to 4% per annum …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 7 August]
“Students say they are facing a growing accommodation crisis, with every college in the country increasing the cost of their on-campus living for the new academic term. Rents at university-owned accommodation are rising, just as new rules come into effect next week which cap increases at 4% …” (more)
[Irish Examiner, 7 August]
“Labour Party Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin says third-level institutions are taking advantage of the housing crisis …” (audio)
[RTÉ – News at One, 7 August]
“Students are facing an accommodation crisis as each of the country’s universities hikes rents for the upcoming academic year. An Irish Independent survey has revealed rent increases of up to 11.5% year on year for university-owned and on-campus accommodation …” (more)
See also: ‘I might have to live in a caravan so that I can go to college’; Priced out: ‘I’m €3,000 in debt just to pay rent’
[Gabija Gataveckaite, Independent, 7 August]
“The cost of on-campus accommodation has risen above the cost of private rental accommodation for the first time, according to a survey of 600 parents of college students in Ireland, while the price of accommodation rental has remained the largest cost associated with third-level education …” (more)
[Finn Purdy, Trinity News, 1 August]
“Third-level students, many of whom are already beginning the search for places to stay when colleges get back into life in September, have been warned to be wary of accommodation scams. Banks, the Garda and the Union of Students of Ireland (USI) have advised students and parents to be on the alert, following cases where victims were conned into paying deposits for properties that do not exist, or were already rented …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 25 July]
“The government has hit back at Micheál Martin’s proposal to create a new government department for higher education and research, questioning the feasibility of a plan mooted by the Fianna Fáíl leader at a higher education conference this morning …” (more)
[Ross Malervy, University Times, 17 July]
“The abolition of the student contribution fee would cost the government €229 million, according to Minister for Education Joe McHugh. McHugh, answering questions in the Dáil this week, said the cost of abolishing Ireland’s fees – which currently stand as the second highest in the EU – would hit the budget of the government’s grant scheme …” (more)
[Cormac Watson, University Times, 5 July]
“A small group of students are camped outside the president’s office in University College Cork (UCC) in protest at an increase to the university’s capitation fee. Around 20 students attempted to gain access to the offices of UCC’s President, Patrick O’Shea, but were prevented from entering by college staff …” (more)
[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 26 June]
“President Michael D Higgins has called for students to be ‘equipped for the crisis we are in’ during the ‘struggle to mitigate climate change’ in a speech addressed to student organisations. The President made the statement at a garden party held in Áras an Uactaráin to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and the 75th anniversary of Macra na Feirme, a youth organisation for people from rural Ireland …” (more)
[Finn Purdy, Trinity News, 24 June]
“NUI Galway has received planning permission for a new 674-bed student accommodation complex worth an estimated €23 million …” (more)
[Rachel O’Leary, University Times, 22 June]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) have released their pre-Budget 2020 submission, outlining their demands for increased higher education funding. The costed recommendations cover the major subcategories of higher education funding, such as grants, fees and housing. The general proposals have largely been made by USI before in previous pre-Budget submissions and the media …” (more)
[Aisling Grace, University Times, 19 June]
“University College Cork (UCC) students have hit out as their college capitation fees will more than double in the next four years. Each year, students must pay a capitation fee to cover the cost of things like membership of the Union of Students Ireland (USI) and recreational facilities and to cover the cost of counselling services …” (more)
[Callum Lavery, Independent, 18 June]
