Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The University College Dublin, UCD, students’ union released a report on student accommodation. It not only highlights the housing crisis that students and their families are facing but also the measures that can be taken by Government in the upcoming budget to reduce the cost of living and studying in Ireland. Two thirds of students are paying upwards of €750 to €900, which is completely unfair. Some 45% of students say that housing has a negative effect and impact on their mental health and 71% had difficulties or extreme difficulties meeting their housing needs.

These pressures are having an impact on student life. More than ever, it is time for Government to consider measures to reduce education costs. Sinn Féin has consistently called for the student contribution to be reduced by €1,000 in year one and that the Government should increase the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, maintenance grant and extend it to thousands more students and their families. The cost of living and studying has spiralled and it is crippling students and families. Many people are deferring courses or are travelling and commuting long distances. If the Government continues to struggle to get to grips with housing crisis, it should alleviate some of that pressure on students and acknowledge that education is a right and not a privilege.