Mr. Bryan O'Mahony:

In terms of the upcoming budget, it is quite clear that we need significant investment in purpose-built student accommodation. Even if we start building today, it is not going to be built by tomorrow and will take time. The longer we have waited to build purpose-built student accommodation, the longer accommodation issues have gone on.

Students are being costed out of education in terms of the cost of the contribution charge and the potential of that rising. There is also unsuitable and unaffordable accommodation. Education needs to be put first and made a priority. A 2024 OECD report on education analysed 31 countries and Ireland was at the bottom of the list in terms of investment in higher education. Therefore, we need to ensure higher education is a priority and students are looked after.

We keep talking about the brain drain but if we are not looking after our students, how can we not expect them to leave?