USI renews calls for student taskforce in Ireland

Dublin- The Union of Students in Ireland has renewed calls for a student accommodation taskforce to be established to address rising levels of rents students have to pay in order to attend their chosen colleges.The taskforce, promised by Environment Minister John Gormley three months ago has not yet come into being, and this, the union claim, is affecting which courses students pursue, due to their inability to meet rent demands in the surrounding areas of the institutions they wish to attend.New figures released by the union show that students are now paying €500 per month in Dublin, while the grant students receive is only €380 per month.

Last August, a taskforce was promised, and the student grants were increased by an average of 10%.But according to the President of USI Hamidreza Khodabakhshi “Unless the grant is adequately increased and the Taskforce established soon, students could be forced to make decisions about which college to attend based on accommodation costs and availability.” Commenting on the absence of the taskforce Mr Khodabakshi said “That was a hollow boast, because students this year are worse off in real terms.USI Eastern Area Officer Paul Lynam said “The student grant was not raised adequately last August, so students are measurably worse off compared to 12 months ago. Ministers need to get real about what it costs students to support themselves. Once Minister Gormley fulfils his promise to establish a Student Accommodation Taskforce, one of the first things USI will propose is immediate Government investment in purpose-built student accommodation. As an added important benefit, this measure would free up existing affordable accommodation for non-students”