Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister said, most students are not in on-campus accommodation, but in the private rented sector. Private student accommodation has been the preferred model for successive Governments. When I raised the issue of private accommodation in recent months, the Minister said there was not a lot he could do.

I wish to commend the private accommodation providers who have issued refunds but many have not, and they need to be called out. I have spoken to the universities about this. I want them to be aware of this in order that they can take the providers who have exploited students off their lists so that in coming years students will not avail of their accommodation.

Telling students and families what they want to hear does not help them in any way. They need a Government which is willing to stand up for them. Many families have been pushed into poverty because of what is happening with student accommodation refunds.

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