Mr. Michael Roche:

Yes. I have been pretty clear about my charge with the university in relation to this. UCD had a history of increasing rents at the 2% level each year in line with the rent pressure zone regulations. For the first time, however, it introduced a new utility charge last year similar to the one in DCU that has been referenced.

From my own perspective, what this seems to be is a way of increasing revenue through the back door outside the rent pressure zone restrictions. I am not sure if this relates to inflation and a lack of public funding and I do not have the answers to hand. When I have raised the matter, it has fallen on deaf ears. This situation is problematic. UCD students already pay the highest level of rent in the country. This is an extra hit that we did not expect and something that we were not consulted on. It also has not been mentioned to us since we have taken up our roles in the union. We have been pushing the matter. It is extremely problematic on that level.