UCD students protest over 12% hike in cost of on-campus rooms

STUDENTS at University College Dublin yesterday protested against a rise in rents for campus accommodation.

The demonstration follows the announcement that on-campus rents will rise by 12% by 2022.

University management previously said the increase is needed to pay for maintenance and to build more accommodation.

Currently, students in Ireland pay €3,000 in university fees, along with rents. DCU, UCC, NUI Galway and NUI Maynooth are all planning to increase campus rents by 3-4% in the coming years.

UCD Students’ Union yesterday protested outside a Governing Authority meeting at the UCD Student Centre.

Union of Students in Ireland (USI) president Lorna Fitzpatrick said the increases ‘fly in the face’ of the reality faced by students. ‘Students are being put in debt every month of the year in order to pay for their education, and for anyone living away from home, rent is their highest outgoing,’ Ms Fitzpatrick said.

‘We know that students are already working long hours to afford their rent. We know of many students who are either sleeping in cars, sleeping on friends’ couches or commuting long hours every day to attend college.

‘Unfortunately, it seems universities seem to care more about their profit margins than their students and that is just not acceptable.’

Ms Fitzpatrick called on the Government to invest in publicly owned student accommodation.

A Department of Education spokesperson said: ‘At present there are an additional 1,429 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) bed spaces under construction in publicly funded higher education institutions (HEIs), and planning permission has been granted for a further 3,108.’

UCD was contacted for comment, but had not responded at the time of going to print.