Gript can reveal that the Cork Student Village which has closed to students for the academic year of 2023/2024 led students to believe it was closing for the next academic year in order to undertake ‘necessary’ renovations.
However, this morning it was reported that the complex which consists of 60 apartments has signed a contract with IPAS to house migrants for a period of 12 months.
In an email seen by Gript dated the 13th of March 2023 sent from the management of the company it was claimed that Cork Student Village was instructed by its insurance company that the complex required a “complete system upgraded to comply with Industry standards”.
While stating that their fire protection system is “certified and fit for purpose” the correspondence says the management had “become acutely aware” that their apartments are “in need of upgrading,”
“As major restructuring work will need to be completed due to the Fire Protection System, we deem it necessary to completely upgrade the standard of our accommodation at this time.”
“We will therefore close for the next academic year,” it said.
Gript contacted Cork Student Village asking why the correspondence did not mention the contract with IPAS and why only the renovations had been cited as the reason for closure.
We received the following statement in response to our query, “In March, a decision was made to leave the student market this year to renovate the apartments.”
“As soon as this decision was made, we advised all current students using our
facilities about the closure, to give any returning students time to find alternative
accommodation before the next academic year in September. No deposits were taken from students, or contracts signed with students for the forthcoming academic year.”
“As we will not be in a position to take in students until this refurbishment work is carried
out, we have agreed to a 12 month contract with the Department of Children, Equality,
Disability, Integration and Youth to provide temporary accommodation for Ukrainian
families, including family members who need to be within easy reach of a medical facility,
which our close proximity to CUH can facilitate.”
“Regarding the renovations, initial remedial work has already commenced and our team are looking forward to welcoming families to the complex.”
We also asked why the insurance company thought the complex was unfit for students and yet fit for migrants to which we are awaiting a response.