A TD has said it is “shocking” that third-level students from Ireland may have to consider studying in other parts of Europe, driven by rising accommodation costs.
The warning that some students may have to look into the option of studying abroad came from the president of the union that represents students in Ireland. Speaking to RTÉ’s This Week on Sunday, Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn President Bryan O’Mahoney said:
“There are options across Europe where accommodation is cheaper, and college courses are cheaper. Ireland has the highest costs to go to college.
“It is getting to the stage where it may be better to study in Europe because of all the hidden costs, the cost of accommodation. Students need to look at all options and do what is best suited for you,” Mr O’Mahoney added.
Speaking today, Deputy McGrath said: “It is truly shocking that our own students may feel forced to leave their own country for third-level education. But who can blame them? Everything is so expensive here. Accommodation and the cost of living is out of control. I just heard from a young lady this morning who is a recently qualified teacher, and her whole university class is going to Dubai to work. How can you blame young Irish people for going abroad, after college, but now also for college, when they are being offered a much better standard of living and lower costs elsewhere? We have huge levels of migration. Many of our best are leaving, and it’s the government’s fault.
“We know we are now the second most expensive country in the EU to live in, after Denmark. Prices for goods and services here are almost a full 40 per cent higher than the EU average – driven by loads of factors the Government could try and get a handle on, including sky-high taxes. The situation is ridiculous. More and more of our brightest and best young people will leave. We know that as many as around 70% are already considering leaving Ireland, with the highest levels of emigration since 2015. A whole generation have been locked out of buying affordable homes, so this really should come as no surprise,” Deputy McGrath said.
“It is not fair. The cost of living makes things nearly impossible for students. Accessibility and participation in higher education is going to suffer, as we continue to heap financial burdens on students and families. We must do something to alleviate the pressure on students. These are the people we want, who will become doctors and teachers and many other professions. They are our future,” the TD added.
The student accommodation crisis has persisted, with the prices for student accommodation soaring – For the academic year of up to nine months, Maynooth University is around €7,000, Galway is in the range of €9,000 and in Dublin students can expect to pay anywhere from €6,500 to €12,000. As the rush to secure accommodation before September begins, students unions here have said that the accommodation problem has worsened – with rents ranging from €800 to €1,200 per month, depending on location.
Mr O’Mahoney, speaking on RTE, said that difficulties include the growing scarcity of accommodation, competition with Airbnbs and spiralling costs,
“The accommodation crisis for students has never been worse and they’re struggling. Some accommodation is up to €12,000 per year. Just look at Cork, 18% of the student accommodation there is publicly built, so there’s no rent control on rents,” he said.
“So, it’s a game of privilege being able to find accommodation, being able to put down multiple deposits in order to go to college,” he added.
“Everyone’s at breaking point wherever you go around the country. Students are also working full-time, and not able to attend classes, because the SUSI grant doesn’t cover the cost of accommodation,” he said.
“It’s different around the country, if you look at Cork and Galway, it could be around €800 per month whereas it’s €12,000 for an academic year. In Waterford, where I’m from it is easily €600 on average per month.”