Professor Vincent Cunnane:

There were a number of questions there. Recently, the TUS students' union in Moylish did an excellent survey of students – about 1,200 students replied – on accommodation type and so on. The Deputy asked a specific question on digs. The survey found that around 12.5% of students were availing of digs, which essentially means they are in the rent a room scheme. We would have a much higher percentage of students with difficulties if it were not for that scheme. It has definitely improved circumstances. Given that 1,200 students replied, the latest figures are instructive. Around 12.5% is the figure I can provide to the committee. There was a lot of dissatisfaction. Sixty per cent said they struggled to find accommodation and 30% said they struggled somewhat. Therefore, 90% of students seeking accommodation in the Moylish area struggled to find it. That is my answer to the direct question.

On the inequity that the Deputy highlighted, I absolutely agree with her. This is where the technological universities have really struggled. The borrowings of the established universities, according to the latest figures I have, amount to about €1.7 billion. You can ask whether that is good or bad, but that is not the point; the point is that the established universities have had access to State funding over a long period. With that State funding, they have been able to borrow, and with both State funding and borrowing they have built student accommodation serving about half the student body. The technological universities have close to half the student body, but only half have access to student accommodation. That is not enough, which I readily accept, but we have beds for only 0.4%. There is a genuine inequity in that regard and we have to ask ourselves, as presidents, what the matter is with our students such that they do not have any access, and why the State seemingly does not want to step up and fill the gap.

On the specific question about the 18 students, their circumstances are not one-off. That 18 students are living in a two-bedroom place within a few hundred metres of our Moylish campus in Limerick means there has been an absolute scam. We hope the local council, health and safety authorities and, indeed, the Garda will pursue the matter. We do not interface with landlords. It is a matter for the student and the landlord. When we became aware of the circumstances, we sent in our TUS global team and the students' union. We were able to remove our students and help others. To think that what occurred was an isolated incident would be a mistake. We have other instances that may not be as severe but that are still serious. I thank the Deputy very much for visiting and seeing for herself the conditions that prevailed in the accommodation. It is only because of the lack of accommodation that such scams are happening.