Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I am glad the Minister referred to college-owned and affordable accommodation because the Union of Students in Ireland is not the only student group protesting. University College Dublin student groups have been protesting about a 20% to 30% increase in accommodation costs. They are being charged €1,400 for 8 months.

The Minister mentioned the cost rental model and I am curious as to what he means by that. In the Government's homes for all Bill, cost rental is defined as 25% below the market value. If this is the Minister's vision of cost rental, all he is doing is subjecting students to the diktat of market, albeit 25% below the market value. The market value will inevitably go up, therefore, the cost of accommodation will go up. I look at the number of students from my area in Dublin 10, where something like 16% of all young people get to college. The figure is 99% in Dublin 6 and Dublin 4. There is a huge disparity. It is reflected in the wealth and poverty of students and it is even deeper when one tries to educate people who come from economic backgrounds where they cannot afford these prices, costs and fees of books, IT equipment, travel and everything that goes with it.

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