Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the proposal by Senator Mark Daly in regard to the Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016.

I wish to raise this morning the chronic lack of accommodation for students, particularly in the city of Dublin. In 1980, 20% of students proceeded to third level education. Today that figure has increased to 60%. We have the highest level of participation at third level in the European Union. This is a statistic of which we can all be proud. Unfortunately, finding accommodation for our children, particularly in this city, has become a serious problem. In 2014, the Higher Education Authority said the number of student beds was approximately 31,000. Today, it is reckoned there is a need for approximately 57,000. This goes to show the extent of the problem. If one couples this with the increase in rent, one can see how some students must commit to leases they simply cannot afford. Some have to sleep on the floor in friends' accommodation, some must live in poor-quality accommodation and some must travel long distances to get to college.

The USI recently commissioned a survey of students that found that 58% miss a meal each day to try to stay in college. Some 38% go hungry in order to stay in college and 34% of go without heat. Some 25%, or one in four, have contacted their students' union to contact the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or a food bank for food. That is serious. As one can imagine, this fosters a dropout culture at third level. It is an issue we must address. It is a crisis that will be facing more people in September, unfortunately.

Addressing this requires some imaginative thinking. One solution might be a State-backed fund to allow universities to build accommodation. Another might be to decentralise some of the courses in our universities. I am sure there is not a provincial town in Ireland that does not have facilities that could serve as an outreach facility to cater for students. In Cavan and Monaghan, there are two institutes with accommodation of quality available to students. If institutes of technology are providing an outreach facility, I see no reason the colleges could not address this issue also. It is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

I beg the Cathaoirleach’s indulgence on a more joyful matter, on the day that is in it. I congratulate Ireland’s oldest councillor, a gentlemen called Mr. Ian McGarvey from Ramelton in County Donegal, on having celebrated his 86th birthday last week. This is a fantastic achievement. He is a credit not only to those of his age but also to the community he serves. He is an example to us all, young and old.