As third-levels students returned to college this week, one student body is warning that it is receiving up to 20 emails a day from “desperate” people unable to find accommodation.
Dublin City University’s Student’s Union said some students have been unable to take their places at the college because they have been unable to secure somewhere to live.
“I had a girl from Donegal due to start her masters, but the commute would have been four hours each way and she couldn’t take her place because she just couldn’t find somewhere to live in Dublin,” Brandon Perry, DCU Students’ Union Vice President for Community & Citizenship said.
Similar experiences are emerging across the country, according to the Union of Students Ireland (USI).
It believes there is a shortfall of 30,000 beds for students nationally.
“Many students are being forced to commute long hours, to couch surf and in some extreme situations, sleep in cars. We know it is forcing students to defer places or to drop-out completely,” said USI president Chris Clifford.
“The crisis is just getting worse and worse.”
Watch our video from Sinéad Brennan and Shauna Burdis to hear from DCU students on their lengthy commutes and accommodation struggles.
