Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I again raise the issue of student accommodation refunds. I am dealing with a parent who has paid €5,000 to a private provider in Galway and whose son's course has since gone fully online. I met a representative of the students' union at the National University of Ireland, Galway, NUIG, last week, which is dealing with about 30 families seeking refunds from the same accommodation provider. The reason given by the provider for not paying the refund is that the Government does not have restrictions in place on the use of student accommodation facilities. This is a disgrace. Parents are under immense pressure and many have to borrow to pay these student accommodation fees. I ask that the Government intervene on these matters and that students get refunds of their accommodation fees.

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